Opting out: why does Hong Kong have more idle youth than its Asian peers?

A job market mismatch, shrinking demand for junior roles, and relatively comfortable family living conditions have driven up Hong Kong’s share of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (Neet) compared to regional peers, observers have warned.Their comments on Friday followed government figures released in response to lawmaker Elvin Lee Ka-kui, showing the city’s Neet rate at 6 per cent. A Legislative Council report last month put the 2025 figure slightly higher at 6.3 per cent – nearly double the overall unemployment rate.“It’s not an individual issue. If more jobs are replaced because of a lack of competitiveness, it would further affect youth employment, which could have a knock-on effect on the upward mobility of society,” lawmaker Elvin Lee Ka-kui warned during a radio programme.