The Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association today held a career fair at Lok Fu Plaza. Multiple organisations participated in on-site recruitment, offering 1,200 job vacancies across various industries, with more than 600 attendees throughout the day.

The fair was organized by the Career Development and Continuing Education Department. Nine organisations provided positions in various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, retail, dining, and property management, catering to fresh graduates, career changers, and individuals looking to re-enter the workforce. In addition to attendees filling out application forms on-site, many came prepared with resumes for immediate interviews.

The Association also offered employment consultation services at the event, providing job-seeking advice to participants. Additionally, the fair featured on-site enrollment services for courses provided by the Employee Retraining Board (ERB), attracting the public inquiring about admission qualifications.

Ms. Lee Nga Kee, Katie, Head of the Career Development and Continuing Education Department, noted that the footfall at the fair was similar to last year; however, she believes that the job market this year is less active than last year. For instance, the number of job vacancies offered this year has decreased by 25% compared to last year’s 1,600 positions. She pointed out that the current economic environment is uncertain, leading employers to adopt a more cautious approach to recruitment, with some collaborating companies indicating a temporary hiring freeze.

However, the food and elderly care industries still face challenges in recruitment. Lee mentioned that this is related to the nature of the work and long working hours. She suggested that employers in these sectors might consider offering part-time positions and flexible working hours to attract more individuals, believing this could appeal to full-time mothers or young people looking to enter the industry.