Hundreds visit Hong Kong job fair with 4,700 openings up for grabs amid labour crunch as city returns to post-Covid normality
- About 60 organisations are taking part in the two-day Exploring New Opportunities Job Fair, the biggest since cross-border travel restrictions were lifted fully
- More than 2,400 positions available in the food and beverage industry, retail and hotels, sectors facing the most shortages
Leon Lau, 27, showed up on the first of the two-day expo in Mong Kok on Wednesday looking for steady work after being laid off as a security guard during the Covid-19 pandemic and working odd jobs since then.
“If I could find a job as a security guard, I would take it, but I want to try something new as I don’t want to be stuck in this profession for my entire life,” he said.
Lau said he was looking to apply for a job as a salesman or chef and that he expected it would be easier to find work as the city had been returning to normal since February.
Labour shortages are a challenge for the city’s post-pandemic recovery, especially in the aviation, tourism, food and beverage, and retail sectors.
A warehouse truck driver surnamed Choi said he had been looking to switch jobs for better pay and benefits.
However, the pandemic meant very few opportunities had presented themselves.
