When asked how modern technology will impact the labour market, many say computers and robots will take over their jobs. Not Hong Kongers. They believe the technology will result in new vacancies.

The Hong Kong chapter of the multinational human resource company Randstad’s latest report shows that eight in 10 residents (81 per cent, to be specific) of the city are positive that digital technology presents them with new opportunities. The latest Workmonitor quarterly report was based on the responses of over 400 employees and job seekers in Hong Kong SAR.

Taking ahead
The report notes that employees and job seekers in the region of Hong Kong SAR are aware that they need to upskill to take advantage of these opportunities that come with technological advancements and new innovations. Eight-three per cent of the respondents said they will need to acquire new skills if they want to work in a digital-led environment. In fact, the same number of respondents want to personally acquire these skills to guarantee their employability.

More investment

According to the Randstad Workmonitor survey, 48 per cent of the respondents said their employer is investing in new technologies within the field of artificial intelligence (AI) such as machine learning, robotics and automation.

Three-quarter of the respondents agreed that these emerging technologies will have a positive impact on their job in the next five to 10 years. While 79 per cent believe their employers should provide them with adequate training to acquire new digital skills and increase productivity, only 46 per cent said their employers are doing so.

What’s more, 63 per cent are taking matters into their own hands, and investing in themselves to learn about AI.

Confidence in the younger generation

In Hong Kong, 84 per cent of survey respondents said that students are being taught and exposed to the right digital skills that will help prepare them for the future workforce.

Overall, the workforce Mobility Index is moderate in Hong Kong in quarter four of 2018, the report notes. “Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction had increased one point to 47.2 per cent. The percentage of respondents who are actively looking for a job had increased from 9.9 per cent to 13.4 per cent in quarter four,” it states.
Over 34 per cent of the respondents said they had changed job in the past six months, an increase from 30 per cent in the previous quarter.

The Malaysian thinking

Nine in 10 Malaysians also believe that digital technology presents them with new opportunities, says another Randstad report. They are also positive that they will need to acquire new skills if they want to work in a digital-led environment. Ninety-three per cent are willing to personally acquire these skills to guarantee their employability.

The survey shows that 69 per cent of the respondents say their employer is investing in new technologies within the field of AI, and more than eight in 10 respondents (81 per cent) agree that these emerging technologies will have a positive impact on their job in the next five to 10 years. While 82 per cent think their employers should provide them with adequate training to acquire new digital skills and increase productivity, only 63 per cent said that their employers are doing so.