The average annual training hours per employee in Hong Kong reached a 14-year high in 2025, according to a recent survey by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management. The study found that employees underwent an average of 19.4 hours of training last year, marking a 6.8% increase from 18.1 hours in 2024 and the highest level since 2011, when the figure was 19.9 hours.

Data was collected from 127 companies spanning 18 industries—including business services, banking, retail, catering, and information technology—between February and April 2025. The survey covered nearly 80,000 full-time employees and highlighted a growing emphasis on upgrading staff skills, particularly with regard to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and soft skills development.

Charles Ho Long-chau, co-chairman of the institute’s learning and development committee, attributed the increase in training hours to the pervasive impact of AI across all organizational levels, from junior staff to senior management. Leadership development remained the top training priority for employers, cited by 50% of respondents. Meanwhile, training in generative AI moved from sixth to second place, reflecting a surge in interest and integration.

Chester Tsang Wing-cheong, an executive council member of the institute, underscored that while AI skills are increasingly valued, leadership training continues to be essential, particularly in areas such as communication, teamwork, and strategic execution.

The survey also revealed that 73% of participating companies allocated budgets for employee training in 2025, with expenditure averaging 2.5% of annual base salaries. Ho pointed out that rising training hours did not necessarily indicate increased spending but rather a shift toward more efficient and cost-effective training approaches, such as AI-assisted or digital learning platforms.

Supporting this trend, a supplementary poll conducted from late April to early May found that 29% of companies had already incorporated AI-assisted tools into their training systems. An additional 14% planned to introduce such tools by the end of 2026, and 24% expected to implement them by 2027.

Ho projected that a dual focus on AI capabilities and soft skills would persist as key corporate training priorities due to the rapid evolution of AI technologies. He also recommended expanding training on AI governance and security, which are increasingly critical for the broad adoption of AI within organizations.

Tsang noted that the rise in training requirements might exert pressure on employees, given the challenges of acquiring new skills, but emphasized the necessity of adapting to the shifting technological and business landscape.

In a separate statement, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Son Dong warned that AI would surpass all previous industrial revolutions in its impact, particularly affecting new graduates and workers in traditional sectors. He pledged to accelerate workforce training and industry initiatives, citing government efforts to develop proprietary large language models, launch AI projects for public use, and implement a HK$50 million educational program aimed at preparing the city for the technological transition.

Echoing these concerns, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han reported a steep decline in job vacancies suitable for university graduates, falling from about 80,000 in 2022 to roughly 31,000 in 2025—a 61% decrease. Sun pointed to international studies indicating that more than 60% of global enterprises expect to reduce entry-level hiring over the next three years due to AI adoption, signaling significant shifts in Hong Kong’s labor market.