John Lee says nurse demand remains strong
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (李家超) said on October 6 that Hong Kong’s demand for nurses is structural rather than temporary, driven by rising healthcare needs and an ageing population. Responding to recent concern over employment prospects for nursing graduates, he said the government’s standing policy is to give priority to locally trained talent and cited Hospital Authority staffing figures to argue that opportunities still exist. Lee also said some graduates in any sector may not seek work immediately, while some employers select only the most suitable candidates, so individual cases of non-hiring can occur. He added that the government will continue to consult the healthcare sector and academia on training and manpower planning.
Key Points
- Speaking before the Executive Council on October 6, Lee said public discussion over nursing graduate recruitment has intensified in recent days.
- Lee said about 4,000 potential nursing graduates are expected in 2025/26, and around 2,500 applied for Hospital Authority jobs.
- That means more than one quarter of those potential graduates sought positions outside the Hospital Authority, including community and private healthcare roles.
- Lee said the Hospital Authority still has more than 3,000 nursing vacancies, including 3,200 cited in one account, so applicants still have hiring opportunities.
- He said 99.8% of Hospital Authority nurses are locally trained, which he said shows the government is clearly implementing a local-talent-first hiring policy.
Why It Matters
The remarks are meant to reassure students and families that nursing remains a field with sustained demand across public hospitals, community care, rehabilitation and private services. They also frame the current dispute as a manpower-planning issue rather than evidence of a collapse in job prospects for locally trained nurses.