Hong Kong Development Bureau: Supporting the continuous professional development of the construction industry to meet industry manpower needs.

On April 10th, the Construction Industry Council in Hong Kong announced the "Construction Project Quantity Forecast" and the "Construction Industry Manpower Forecast." A spokesperson for the Development Bureau in Hong Kong stated that the government will continue to cooperate with the Construction Industry Council in order to promote the professional development of the construction industry and address the industry's manpower needs through a multi-pronged strategy. The budget for the 2026/27 fiscal year announced in February includes a basic engineering expenditure budget of approximately HK$128 billion. From the fiscal year 2027/28 to 2030/31, the basic engineering expenditure is expected to remain at a similar high level each year. Additionally, as the economy, including the real estate market, gradually recovers, private project volumes are expected to gradually increase. Combined with the expected increase in other public projects such as railways and public housing, the Construction Industry Council estimates that the overall industry total project volume is expected to reach HK$305-360 billion by the fiscal year 2030/31, with steady long-term prospects for the construction industry as a whole. The manpower demand for different types of work in the construction industry will continue to change in response to changes in the categories of projects and the types of work involved. Due to the gradual increase in infrastructure-related projects (including earthworks in the Northern Metropolis and railway projects) in the coming years, and the increasing popularity of advanced construction technologies such as "modular construction," certain types of work are expected to face significant manpower shortages, including machinery operation, rigging, and mechanical and electrical installation. However, there has been some relief in the shortage of labor for certain types of work recently, such as reinforcement, formwork, concrete and grouting, and bricklaying. Overall, with the predicted steady increase in industry total project volume, the total manpower demand for the Hong Kong construction industry over the next five years remains high. The spokesperson stated that the Development Bureau in Hong Kong will refer to the Construction Industry Council's forecasting data and continue to work with the council through a multi-pronged strategy, prioritizing local labor for employment and cooperation with the council to provide local training and promote the application of technology in the industry to enhance overall productivity. The Bureau will continue to use the existing Construction Industry Imported Labor Scheme as a supplementary measure to dynamically address the labor demand in the construction industry. The government hopes that the Construction Industry Council will continue to utilize government funding and its own resources to provide additional training and support for construction workers in areas such as multi-skills training and skills upgrading. Regarding construction industry professionals, the budget announced in February suggested allocating HK$65 million to support the Development Bureau in increasing the quota for professional training programs for graduates in 2026 to 260, to support graduates in obtaining professional qualifications in the construction industry. Additionally, with the government's support, the Construction Industry Council will contribute HK$180 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year to fund in-job training for a total of 3,000 relevant graduates. Furthermore, the government has always supported the industry in adopting advanced construction technologies to increase overall productivity and promote the continuous development of the construction industry. The government has allocated a total of HK$2.2 billion to the Construction Industry Innovation and Technology Fund in 2018 and 2022, and anticipating the full disbursement of the fund's balance by 2026, the budget proposed allocating an additional HK$1 billion to the fund, along with the Construction Industry Council's contribution of HK$400 million, totaling HK$1.4 billion, to continue supporting the broader use of innovative technology in the industry. The government will collaborate with the Construction Industry Council to promote the wider use of innovative construction methods and new technologies such as modular construction, mechanical and electrical equipment synthesis, artificial intelligence, and construction robotics. The spokesperson stated that the healthy development of the construction industry is not only an important part of the economic development of Hong Kong but also a cornerstone of the city's high-quality development. Looking ahead, the government will continue to collaborate with the Construction Industry Council and all stakeholders in the industry to address the various aspects of the industry's project volume and manpower needs.