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Sammy Heung

Decked out in black gowns, hoods and graduation caps on a summer afternoon, the class of 2024 at a university in Hong Kong streamed into a congregation ceremony organised to celebrate their achievements and launch them into the next stage of their lives.
But some graduates told the Post of their worries over entering the world of full-time work.
Some said they prioritised happiness and work-life balance over their careers – a trend in Generation Z also spotted by human resources experts.
“I want to be a slacker for a while first before working full-time,” said Kwok, a 22-year-old graduate of Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
“Working full-time is exhausting. My friends have lost some of their freedom as they cannot travel as much as they want.”
The imaging design and digital art graduate added it was common practice for people working at renowned design agencies to work overtime until the early hours and continue to work the next day.
Kwok, who asked to be identified only by her second name, said she planned to go for part-time jobs that were “more relaxing”, such as reception or administrative staff.
The number of births in the city in 2002, when most 2024 university graduates in Hong Kong were born, was 48,209.
Government statistics in 2020 showed 15,642 people were offered first-year places on publicly funded or self-financing bachelor’s degree courses.
The Post spoke to graduates of two universities about their plans for the future and views on their career prospects as the city fights to recover from the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jessica Ng, 22, who graduated from Metropolitan University with a degree in creative media and advertising, said she was “very worried” about not being able to land a job.
She said she planned to act fast due to concerns that “most job positions would be filled” because of fierce competition.
She added that most employers she had met said they could only offer HK$16,000 in monthly salary, despite her asking for an HK$18,000 (US$2,300).
Ng admitted she was “very anxious” about full-time work, after she discovered some friends had to work past midnight.
“I hope to have a work-life balance,” she said. “I do not wish to lose myself over work.
“To me, the meaning of life is not to make money. I would like to earn money with the aim of making myself happy.”
Connie Wong, an imaging design and digital art graduate of the same university, said she planned to “lie flat” for a year and travel around the world before she committed to a full-time career.
The phrase, originating in mainland China, refers to a phenomenon in recent years in which some young people reject lives based around their careers and focus on personal development.
Wong said she would build a travel fund by working part-time jobs.
“I believe most young people born after 2000 are afraid of being wage slaves and do not want to be terrified by this idea,” she explained.
“I want to do more of what I love now when I have time.”
Wong added she did not want to give up her leisure time to work and pointed out that people in the design field might still need to work on holidays.
She said she also aimed to amass more than HK$100,000 in savings, but was not confident that her salary would hit HK$17,000 a month.
The University Grants Committee has said that undergraduates in arts and humanities subjects who graduated last year secured an average salary of HK$22,416 a month, up from HK$21,000 the year before.
An analysis of census statistics by a think tank last year found that the median salary for graduates aged 20 to 24 in 2022 was HK$17,424 a month.

Yukina Ikawa, 21, who graduated with a degree in Japanese from the University of Hong Kong, however, was optimistic about her earnings.
She said she had been hired by a Japanese company and was confident she could earn more than the median monthly salary.
But Ikawa added she also placed more emphasis on personal fulfilment than career success and money.
“Happiness is the most important thing to me,” she said. “I do not have any crazy goals.
“My family is able to afford my living conditions so I will not put money as my first priority,” she said. “[What is] more important is that I am able to do what I love and be happy.”
But Ken Ng, 23, who took China studies and international relations at the University of Hong Kong, bucked the trend and said his ambition was to be a “first-generation wealthy person”.
“Investing in cryptocurrencies, US stocks, working a job, starting a business – I will have an all-round development,” he said.
“I believe the entry salary for graduates of the faculty of arts is only HK$15,000, which is miserable, so I need a series of investments to fight inflation.”
Alexa Chow Yee-ping, the managing director of AMAC Human Resources Consultants, said graduates had shifted their priority from money towards work-life balance in recent years and may prefer part-time or freelance jobs over full-time ones.
She said employers also had to work to retain younger staff through non-financial incentives to boost their work-life balance and mental health.
These included limited overtime, more holidays, a better working environment or even hiring assistants to help with daily tasks such as dry-cleaning clothes.
Chow said people were generally better-off than they were in the past and families usually did not exert much pressure on their children to become financially independent.
“It is not good news for employers, as graduates are more nonchalant about their jobs,” she said. “It is hard for them to find reliable new blood.”


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Hong Kong society

Work-life clash as new Hong Kong graduates say they prioritise happiness over career goals

An analysis of census statistics by a think tank last year found that the median salary for graduates aged 20 to 24 in 2022 was HK$17,424 a month. Photo: Daniel Suen

New graduates of the University of Hong Kong ready themselves to enter the world of work – but some say happiness is more important. Photo: Daniel Suen

The new crop of graduates say work-life balance is important in their lives and takes precedence of career. Photo: Daniel Suen

Average salary for Hong Kong graduates up last year – but by smallest amount since 2021

University of Hong Kong graduates, revealed to be the highest earning after they finish their degrees, celebrate after the awards ceremony. Photo: Dickson Lee

Chinese University students celebrate earning their degrees in time-honoured style. Photo: Felix Wong

Much work remains to be done ahead of any 4-day week in Hong Kong

Office workers walk on a street during lunch hour in the Central district in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg

Hong Kong universities rise in newly published global subject rankings, driven by positive employer feedback on graduates’ performance

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology  campus in Sai Kung. UST was the highest placed local university for data science and artificial intelligence programmes in a global ranking. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

The ranking includes more than 200 subjects from eight public universities in the city and Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Photo: Fung Chang

News

Hong Kong

Society

#852stories

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Photo: Connor Mycroft

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Second-generation Kee Chui Cake Shop operator William Cheung says mooncake sales are lower in comparison with last year. Photo: Connor Mycroft

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Photo: Eugene Lee

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Jayvee Alconaba (right) and his girlfriend Ami Kwok dress as Sonic the Hedgehog and Amy Rose. Photo: Daniel Suen

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Shop B founder Natalie Ngan beside her restaurant’s indoor neon sign. Photo: Daniel Suen

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Hing Wah II Estate is made up of seven slab blocks of high-rises. Photo: Daniel Suen

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Tourists flock to the Yau Ma Tei Police Station heritage site for a shot of the iconic building facade where many television shows were filmed. Photo: Eugene Lee

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A notice informing residents that the quota is full is displayed at the Tsuen Wan Dental Clinic. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

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Graduates of two city universities say they have reservations about full-time work because of fears they must give up free time


Graduates of two city universities say they have reservations about full-time work because of fears they must give up free time.


Hong Kong economy

Education

Mental health

The University of Hong Kong