HK bets on AI talent ladder to save entry-level jobs

Hong Kong is betting on a four-step AI "talent ladder" to turn the technology from a job threat into a career catalyst, aiming to protect entry-level roles while building tomorrow's industry leaders.

Speaking at the Global Youth Powerhouse Summit 2026, permanent secretary for innovation, technology and industry Kevin Choi stressed that the "entry-level shock" in today's theme is real. Many routine tasks that once made up a graduate's first job, such as basic coding and front-line customer service, are precisely the tasks AI now performs well.

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“Our answer is not to shield young people from AI, but to make sure the first job is still there, and that it is a better one,” said Choi. 

Anchored by Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan and latest Policy Address, the Hong Kong government is building a comprehensive "talent ladder" to take emerging professionals from foundational literacy to industry leadership. The first step is mass AI literacy, removing cost and access barriers so no one is left behind.

Choi said the government is investing at population scale. Through the "AI for all" inclusive programme, the government is delivering over 200 tailored training courses and activities by early 2028, promoting responsible AI use among students, researchers, and working professionals.

To build public familiarity with emerging technologies such as embodied AI, the government is introducing the "Robots in the community" pilot programme, bringing technology out of labs and into daily life. For the workforce, it offers free online training courses focused on workplace AI applications, aiming to upskill 40,000 employees. For small and medium enterprises, enhanced programmes such as the digital transformation support pilot programme and the Hong Kong Productivity Council's advisory services provide direct tools to integrate AI into everyday operations.

Once literacy is established, the second step turns learners into innovators. Choi noted Hong Kong is the only city with five universities in the global top 100. UGC-funded universities are launching 27 new STEM undergraduate programmes focused on AI, creative technologies, and data science. HKSTPC has also expanded its talent foundry programme to offer around 500 annual AI+ training opportunities for professionals and students.

Just as importantly, the government is paving the way for that crucial first job. The 2026 Policy Address announced a two-year 30,000 youth employment and internship programme, jointly launched by the government and the business sector. It will also expand the STEM internship scheme to offer around 10,000 internship quotas in two years for youth to explore new I&T fields.

The third step turns academic excellence into real-world impact by aligning spatial strategy, research funding, and industry application. Choi said the government is committed to nurturing this synergistic ecosystem by rolling out initiatives that empower local university teams to turn innovative ideas into viable start-ups, including the technology start-up support scheme for universities and the $10 billion research, academic and industry sectors one-plus scheme.

This brings to the final step: infrastructure, career opportunities, and policy pathways that empower AI users to thrive long term. AI requires massive computing power, and the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster will underpin Hong Kong's AI development. Expected to begin phased operation in mid-2027, its computing power will reach 180,000 petaflops by 2032, 36 times Hong Kong's current level, giving technology developers access to high-performance infrastructure.

Finally, a ladder needs solid ground. Under the government's AI risk-governance strategy, it is addressing seven areas, from ethical governance and AI agent safety to the broader impact of widespread AI use, with the support of a new commissioner for AI to be created within the Digital Policy Office.

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