Cross-sector collaboration vital to address AI fluency paradox among youth: minister
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han has called for joint efforts from government, employers and philanthropy to help young people gain real-world work experience amid AI disruption. Speaking at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's PBC Forum 2026 on Monday, Sun highlighted what he called a paradox where young people show the highest AI fluency yet face limited opportunities to be tested in actual workplaces. The government is responding by upgrading the Employees Retraining Board to Upskill Hong Kong and launching a manpower forecast to identify which jobs are most vulnerable to AI.
Key Points
- Young people possess the highest AI fluency but struggle to find real-world testing opportunities, creating what Sun calls a "paradox of AI fluency without a platform"
- Higher education alone is no longer a guaranteed passport to career success in the AI era, Sun said at the forum on Monday
- Success in today's job market requires AI fluency, trade-specific professional skills, and soft skills such as communication and persuasion
- Clerical workers face particularly high risk of job displacement due to AI adoption across industries
- The government plans to upgrade the Employees Retraining Board under the "Upskill Hong Kong" brand and launch a social welfare project-matching platform later this year
Why It Matters
The forum's discussions reflect growing concerns about a widening gap between young people's technological capabilities and their ability to apply those skills in professional settings. As AI continues transforming the employment landscape, Hong Kong's proactive approach to retraining and forecasting job market changes could serve as a model for other economies facing similar challenges. The success of cross-sector collaboration in addressing youth unemployment will likely determine whether the next generation can successfully navigate the AI transition.
The forum's discussions reflect growing concerns about a widening gap between young people's technological capabilities and their ability to apply those skills in professional settings. As AI continues transforming the employment landscape, Hong Kong's proactive approach to retraining and forecasting job market changes could serve as a model for other economies facing similar challenges. The success of cross-sector collaboration in addressing youth unemployment will likely determine whether the next generation can successfully navigate the AI transition.