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Hong Kong, jobs emergency: workers shortage by 2018
One government study confirms need for 14 thousand workers by 2018 to maintain economic growth at current levels. Behind this there are restrictive policies on birth control imposed by Beijing and the decision not to give citizenship to those born in the Territory.
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The restrictive population policies of the government in Beijing are beginning to be felt in Hong Kong for the first time in its history, in fact, the former British colony will face a shortfall of 14 thousand workers, needed to maintain economic growth at current levels. This was revealed by a study conducted by the government: in 2018 the lack of workers will hit the local GDP.
The effects of this emergency, says the text, will be felt gradually as the children of "baby boomers" (ie those born in the forties and fifties of last century, children of the economic recovery) begin to retire. Approximately 14 thousand jobs will not find suitable candidates: only foreigners, graduates in mainland China or the new immigrants could fill the gap. It is the first time since 1988 - the year of commencement of this study - that the Territory has faced a labour shortage.
At the root of the problem is the low birth rate in Hong Kong, which according to demographics expert Paul Yip Siu-fai "must double" to maintain economic growth at current levels: "Right now the average is 1.04 children for every woman in the Territory: we need to at least 2.01 to meet the demand. " However, if children born in Hong Kong to non-resident parents were included then the rate would reach 1.04 to 1.5.
At present, the local executive prevents the automatic recognition of citizenship to babies born in Hong Kong: The decision - opposed by the local Catholic Church - is not implementing ius soli and in fact discriminates against hundreds of thousands of foreign workers (mostly Philippine and Indonesian) who live there.
The study reveals another danger: if the demand for workers was limited to those with primary education, in fact, in 2018 there would be a surplus of 8,500 people. But if you include graduates, the gap reaches 22 thousand. A spokesman for the Office for Labour and Welfare admits: "The shortfall of 14 workers may not seem alarming, but we must be careful, because it is the first time that we have faced such a problem."