Hong Kong's AI upskilling push is retraining white-collar workers. Here's what it means for HR teams across Asia
Hong Kong's government is accelerating efforts to retrain white-collar workers as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the city's job market.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said Upskill Hong Kong – the renamed Employees Retraining Board (ERB) – will deliver AI courses. The target group is workers most exposed to automation, particularly those in clerical and administrative roles.
Speaking on Commercial Radio on 27 September 2026, Sun said enterprises were moving towards requiring staff to hold both AI capabilities and domain expertise. That shift, he said, would fundamentally change how employers recruit.
"So for those currently employed, especially those doing ordinary white-collar clerical work whom we worry may be faced with a higher chance of being replaced by AI, we want to use Upskill Hong Kong to offer AI training courses so they can master more AI skills earlier," Sun said.
"They are already familiar with the industry, and with AI empowerment on top of that, it allows some of them to transform and transition to jobs that combine the two."
Why is Hong Kong launching an AI upskilling drive now?
Hong Kong's Labour and Welfare Bureau estimates the city will face an overall worker shortage of around 130,000 by 2028, revised down from an earlier forecast of 180,000.
The bureau's mid-term manpower projection attributes the improvement partly to AI moderating labour demand growth. The same report found that graduate-level roles had fallen by over 60% since 2022, driven by AI displacing entry-level white-collar work.
How will AI upskilling shift L&D priorities across the region?
The Hong Kong government's response offers a clear signal for HR and L&D leaders across Asia. Public investment is setting expectations that employers will do their part, whether through direct training provision or by supporting government-run programs.
Data from Singapore-based workforce intelligence company Epitome Global, published in February 2026, points to a regional readiness gap. Skills assessments across Singapore and Malaysia between 2023 and 2025 found only around one in five professionals demonstrating AI-ready behaviours such as curiosity, persistence, and reflective learning.
Kevin Chan, chief executive officer of Epitome Global in Singapore, said the differentiator in 2026 was not how many AI tools organisations deploy. It was how effectively they build AI capability in their people.
That gap has not gone unnoticed by employers already investing in training. A 2026 survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM) found 29% of companies had integrated AI-assisted tools into their training systems. Yet only 6% had established a dedicated AI training budget. This shows that strategic commitment has yet to translate into structured investment.
What does AI upskilling mean for HR teams building AI-ready workforces?
For HR leaders, the Hong Kong initiative demonstrates that AI upskilling is no longer optional.
Upskill Hong Kong is expected to launch an AI upskilling campaign in the first half of 2027, targeting approximately 40,000 employees. More than 200 training courses will roll out under the broader AI for All program by the first quarter of 2028.
Sun also flagged concern for recent graduates. Businesses had grown hesitant to hire new entrants as technologies shift rapidly.
A wage subsidy scheme starting in the first quarter of 2027 will cover up to HK$6,000 per month for young workers. That equates to a third of monthly salary, paid for the first six months.
Built with major employers and trade associations, the scheme aims to create 10,000 full-time roles lasting at least six months over two years.
The Hong Kong government’s initiative offers insights to HR and L&D teams: AI training cannot be limited to technical staff. It must reach every level of the workforce. Organisations without a structured AI upskilling plan now risk being outpaced as government programs accelerate across the region. The same point is reinforced by what regional employers are finding as they compete for AI-skilled talent across borders.
