Employers in Hong Kong aim to fill over 2,000 positions. artificial intelligence (AI) positions as the city strives to evolve into a center for innovation and tech.
The open positions will be highlighted during the Cyberport Career Fair, scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Over 580 entities are set to participate, encompassing startups, technology businesses, governmental bodies, as well as corporations such as Hang Seng Bank and Centaline Property.
Approximately 70 percent of recruiters plan to seek out AI professionals, with almost 60 percent of these roles focused on AI applications, according to Ricky Choi, who serves as the smart-living director at Cyberport.
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Previously, people may have believed that Hong Kong was mainly centered around finance," Choi stated. "However, we've observed a subtle change in this field recently, particularly this year, with 67 percent of employers now originating from the smart-living sector.
He mentioned that smart living encompasses technologies related to the environment, retail, healthcare, robotics, the Internet of Things, and education.
Choi noted that the education technology sector makes up 29 percent of the job opportunities, indicating the biggest proportion among various sectors.
The demand for AI talent in Hong Kong remains substantial as the industry booms. One in three professionals in Hong Kong was considering switching to AI-related careers, according to digital job platform TechJobAsia.
The platform stated that roles demanding AI expertise were offering salaries up to 24 percent higher compared to positions that did not require such skills. It also mentioned that the monthly wage for entry-level AI engineers varied between HK$24,000 (approximately US$3,088) and HK$31,000.
Perry Chan, CEO of DefyPay—a blockchain tech startup—and a participant at the career fair as a recruiter, mentioned that the innovative viewpoints of younger individuals might ignite creativity within AI and accelerate technological progress.
"He mentioned that job seekers don’t require a particular educational qualification, and having no prior knowledge can also be fine. The crucial aspects are their capacity for critical thought and their willingness to adapt to novel situations.”
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po vowed to turn AI advancement into a primary economic force during the announcement of austerity measures 2025-26 budget last month.
He mentioned that the government plans to allocate HK$1 billion for setting up a Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute, along with numerous other technological projects valued at several billion dollars.
Among the primary focuses mentioned by Chan at the Technology for Change conference on Wednesday was talent. The other crucial aspects include supercomputing capabilities, algorithms, data, and capital.
"Besides allocating additional resources for AI research, our focus is on fostering an innovation-friendly atmosphere that supports the experimentation and piloting of AI technologies," Chan stated.
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