60% more applicants per job in Hong Kong in 2025 amid AI takeover of roles

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Leopold ChenJanuary 19, 2026 at 08:21 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

In 2025, Hong Kong's job market experienced significantly increased competition, with a 58% rise in the average number of applications per job, according to Jobsdb Hong Kong. Frontline positions saw an even greater surge, with a 78% increase in applications. Job seekers also became more active, with a 33% increase in those submitting over 100 applications monthly. This intensified competition occurred alongside a moderate decrease in job postings on the platform. While hiring demand is expected to remain resilient in 2026, the market will likely remain competitive due to ongoing transformation, including the adoption of AI, even as advertised salaries rose by 4% in 2025.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

2026 40% Bill Lee Chern-hsing 60% 2025 ×270% Artificial Intelligence (AI) 70% Jobsdb Hong Kong ×280% Hong Kong ×490%

Keywords

job market 90% job applications 80% artificial intelligence 70% competition 70% hiring demand 60% labour market 60% jobseekers 60% frontline positions 50% salaries 50%