Designed by Freepik
With the 2026-27 Budget shifting from "Austerity" to "Growth", the hiring market is entering a high-velocity phase. The government's $50 million AI injection is a signal that "digital proficiency" is the currency of 2026.
Key Strategy Shifts:
- The "Upskill Hong Kong" Era: As the ERB rebrands, companies should pivot from seeking "pre-trained" AI experts—who are rare and expensive—to identifying "trainable" talent.
- Leveraging Silver Talent: With the Re-employment Allowance increased to $220 million, there is a massive financial incentive to hire experienced workers (aged 50+) who can provide stability in a 3.9% unemployment market.
- Internship as a Pipeline: The government is granting 3,600 short-term internship placements this year. Smart HR teams are using these as a "low-risk" trial period for future full-time hires.
Action:
Review your 2026 training budget. With the new subsidies, you can likely offset the cost of AI-augmentation training for your mid-level managers, who are currently the most at risk of burnout as work speeds up.