More investment into career training
February 26, 2014
Financial Secretary John Tsang has proposed the Government invest resources into career training to solve Hong Kong's manpower mismatch.
Delivering his 2014-15 Budget today, Mr Tsang said despite a general rise in the workforce's education level, there remains a manpower mismatch and a relatively high youth unemployment rate. The Government will implement a series of measures to curb these issues.
The Vocational Training Council will launch a pilot training and support scheme to attract new entrants for industries with keen demand for labour.
The Education Bureau will strengthen support to schools to boost career guidance and life planning education to enable students to realise their potential.
The Government will allocate $130 million to implement the Task Force on Manpower Development of the Retail Industry's recommendations, to help retailers increase productivity.
It will also help the council strengthen its vocational education and training with reference to the Specifications of Competency Standards for the Retail Industry, drawn up under the Qualifications Framework. This includes running retail courses through a professional institution and launching pilot courses combining classroom learning and work placement.
"We shall work with the industry to enhance the image of the trade. The Labour Department will provide targeted recruitment and employment services as well as organise large-scale and district-based job fairs, all dedicated to the retail industry."
To identify IT talent, the Government will incorporate enrichment programmes in secondary schools outstanding in IT education, to cultivate young IT professionals and entrepreneurs.
The Education Bureau will establish a $1 billion endowment fund to provide a steady source of funding to support the Qualifications Framework's sustainable development.
The Employees Retraining Board will offer 130,000 training places and services for people aged 15 or above with education attainment at sub-degree level or below. Resources have also been reserved to provide an additional 40,000 places to meet the potential demand from the employment market.
"The city cannot afford to let the talent of any of its members go to waste. To ensure our manpower resources meet the needs of economic development, we have to specifically strengthen life planning, vocational education and training for the youth.
"Shortage of manpower hampers the development of certain industries. Labour shortage in the construction sector, for instance, would affect the delivery of infrastructure projects. Apart from encouraging young people to join these industries, admitting from abroad talent and workers not available in Hong Kong will also help maintain our competitiveness."
