Hong Kong raises age cap for skilled foreign employees to address labour shortage

Hong Kong is expanding its skilled labour talent pool by raising the age limit for non-local technical employees from 35 to 40, in a strategic move aimed at easing workforce shortages across critical sectors.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun announced the change during a radio appearance, highlighting that the updated age limit was finalized after extensive stakeholder consultations. The revised policy will apply to a new talent admission scheme, set to be launched soon.

“Setting the cap at 40 is more appropriate,” Sun said. “If an employee arrives at that age, they can contribute to Hong Kong’s economy for at least 25 years, potentially working until 65.” He identified industries such as lift maintenance, electrical work, and enrolled nursing in care homes as key beneficiaries of the programme.

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy introduced by Chief Executive John Lee’s 2023 policy address, which projected a shortfall of 180,000 employees across multiple sectors within the next five years. To tackle this, the government committed to overhauling its talent admission framework, with a focus on attracting skilled and experienced professionals to fill urgent gaps.

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Initially, the age limit for non-local skilled employees has been proposed at 35, but Sun said the government revised the threshold after “listening carefully to views from different sectors.” The new age range of 18 to 40, he explained, aligns with international demographic trends and better reflects a modern understanding of a “young” workforce.

The programme aims to bring in 10,000 skilled employees over a three-year period. Sun emphasised that this intake would have “minimal impact” on employment opportunities for local talent, noting that the scheme is designed with safeguards to balance economic needs and job protection for residents.

He added that stringent criteria will be applied to all applicants, including clear requirements around qualifications, job scopes, and age. “They will only engage in designated work in Hong Kong,” he stressed, ensuring the policy directly targets acute labour shortages in technical roles.

While the scheme will not limit applicants by country of origin, Sun acknowledged that a significant portion of incoming professionals is likely to come from mainland China, in line with existing government talent programmes.

In addition to addressing shortfalls in traditional technical trades, the programme will also support the growth of emerging industries in Hong Kong—particularly new manufacturing sectors that require specialised skills not yet available in the local workforce, reported Bangkok Post.

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