Manpower Projection to 2027
Information and Communications Sector
Overall Trend
The Information & Communications (I&C) sector consists of three sub-sectors, namely Telecommunication activities, Software publishing and information technology related services, and Miscellaneous activities related to information and communications. Hong Kong has made great strides in driving the development of the Information and communications sector over the years. Our Telecommunications industry is one of the most sophisticated and successful markets in the world. The rolling-out of the fifth generation mobile communications technology (5G) presents new opportunities for Hong Kong to further excel its telecommunication business. The infrastructure works of developing the Lok Ma Chau Loop into the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park as well as the Data Technology Hub at Tseung Kwan O, for instance, will further help shape the future of Hong Kong as a renowned information and communication technology hub and an excellent location for high-end data centres. With the various incentives and strong policy support such as the publication of the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong in December 2017, it is anticipated that the sub-sectors of Telecommunication activities and Software publishing and information technology related services will continue its development in the years ahead (with their manpower requirements projected to grow at average annual rates of 1.6% and 2.5% respectively during the period from 2017 to 2027). On the other hand, owing to the continuous shrinkage of the print media and increasing automation and use of advanced technology in the printing industry, the related manpower demands of the Miscellaneous activities related to information and communications sub-sector is expected to fall (at an average annual rate of 0.7% during the period from 2017 to 2027). The manpower requirements of the I&C sector as a whole were about 115 800 in 2017, and are projected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.2% to 130 700 in 2027.
In gist, the I&C sector is projected as one of the faster growing economic sectors (i.e. those with the projected growth rate faster than that of the overall economy) in terms of manpower requirements during the period from 2017 to 2027.
Overall Manpower Requirement in I&C Sector
| Sub-sector |
Actual manpower requirements in 2017 Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2017 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2017 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunication activities& | 21 000 | 24 500 | + 3 600 | + 1.6% |
| Software publishing and information technology related services# | 51 300 | 65 500 | + 14 200 | + 2.5% |
| Miscellaneous activities related to information and communications** | 43 500 | 40 700 | - 2 800 | - 0.7% |
| Whole sector | 115 800 |
130 700 |
+15 000 |
+ 1.2% |
& It includes the activities of providing telecommunications and related service activities, i.e. transmitting data, signal, text, sound and video, etc.
# It includes publishing of ready-made (non-customised) software including operating systems, computer games for all platforms, business and other applications, as well as online game websites which design, reproduce and distribute the software games by themselves. It also includes computer software design, computer system integration and other information technology services. Also included are the provision of infrastructure for web hosting, data processing services and related activities, as well as the provision of search facilities and other portal services for the Internet.
** It includes publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing activities; motion pictures, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities; programming and broadcasting activities; and other information service activities.
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
Manpower Requirement in I&C Sector by Occupation Group
| Occupation Group |
Actual manpower requirements in 2017 Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2017 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2017 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers and Administrators | 21 800 | 26 500 | + 4 800 | + 2.0% |
| Professionals | 35 000 | 40 900 | + 5 900 | + 1.6% |
| Associate Professionals | 36 200 | 42 400 | + 6 200 | + 1.6% |
| Clerical Support Workers | 12 300 | 11 400 | - 900 | - 0.8% |
| Service and Sales Workers | 3 700 | 3 800 | + 100 | + 0.3% |
| Craft and Related Workers | 3 900 | 3 600 | - 300 | - 0.9% |
| Drivers, Plant and Machine Operators, and Assemblers | 800 | 600 | - 200 | - 3.4% |
| Elementary Occupations | 2 100 | 1 600 | - 500 | - 2.6% |
| Total | 115 800 | 130 700 | + 15 000 | + 1.2% |
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
Manpower Requirement in I&C Sector by Education Level
| Education Level |
Actual manpower requirements in 2017 Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2017 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2017 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower secondary and below | 4 400 | 2 500 | - 2 000 | - 5.6% |
| Upper secondary | 25 300 | 21 000 | - 4 300 | - 1.9% |
| Diploma | 3 900 | 3 500 | - 400 | - 1.1% |
| Sub-degree | 9 300 | 11 700 | + 2 400 | + 2.4% |
| First degree | 56 600 | 70 700 | + 14 200 | + 2.3% |
| Post-graduate | 16 300 | 21 300 | + 5 000 | + 2.7% |
| Total | 115 800 | 130 700 | + 15 000 | + 1.2% |
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
Information Technology and Information Services Industry
Overall Trend
The Information Technology and Information Services (IT&IS) industry covers Telecommunication activities and Software publishing and information technology related services. The rolling-out of 5G and the development of Hong Kong into a smart city present new opportunities for Hong Kong to further excel its telecommunication- and information technology-related business. The rapid development of Fintech, big data analytics, artificial intelligence and cyber security in various sectors of our economy calls for huge demand of personnel with comprehensive knowledge and experience on relevant subject matter as well as information technology (IT). In addition, many companies tend to rely on IT vendors external to the companies to develop new technologies for their businesses and many small and medium enterprises even outsource their entire IT operations or moving their operations to the cloud. This offers excellent opportunity for Hong Kong to develop telecommunication- and IT-related business. The advanced telecommunication infrastructure and IT-savvy workers in Hong Kong are conducive to the development of telecommunication and IT services. It is anticipated that the IT&IS industry will continue to expand. The manpower requirements of this sector are projected to grow considerably at an average annual rate of 2.2% from 72 300 in 2017 to 90 000 in 2027.
Overall Manpower Requirement in IT&IS Industry
| Sub-sector |
Actual manpower requirements in 2017 Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2017 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2017 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telecommunication activities& | 21 000 | 24 500 | + 3 600 | + 1.6% |
|
Software publishing and information technology related services# |
51 300 | 65 500 | + 14 200 | + 2.5% |
| Total | 72 300 | 90 000 | + 17 800 | + 2.2% |
& It includes the activities of providing telecommunications and related service activities, i.e. transmitting data, signal, text, sound and video, etc.
# It includes publishing of ready-made (non-customised) software including operating systems, computer games for all platforms, business and other applications, as well as online game websites which design, reproduce and distribute the software games by themselves. It also includes computer software design, computer system integration and other information technology services. Also included are the provision of infrastructure for web hosting, data processing services and related activities, as well as the provision of search facilities and other portal services for the Internet.
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
Manpower Requirement in IT&IS Industry by Occupation Group
| Occupation Group |
Actual manpower requirements in 2017 Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2017 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2017 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers and Administrators | 16 300 | 21 300 | + 5 000 | + 2.7% |
| Professionals | 21 000 | 27 200 | + 6 200 | + 2.6% |
| Associate Professionals | 23 900 | 30 300 | + 6 400 | + 2.4% |
| Clerical Support Workers | 6 700 | 6 800 | + 100 | + 0.2% |
| Service and Sales Workers | 1 400 | 1 400 | ^^ | §§ |
| Craft and Related Workers | 2 300 | 2 500 | + 200 | + 0.7% |
| Drivers, Plant and Machine Operators, and Assemblers | 300 | 200 | - 100 | - 2.3% |
| Elementary Occupations | 500 | 400 | - 100 | - 3.0% |
| Total | 72 300 | 90 000 | + 17 800 | + 2.2% |
^^ Change within ±50
§§ Figure is suppressed owing to small value of the estimated projected change.
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
Manpower Requirement in IT&IS Industry by Education Level
| Education Level |
Actual manpower requirements in 2017 Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2017 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2017 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower secondary and below | 1 700 | 1 200 | - 500 | - 3.3% |
| Upper secondary | 13 400 | 12 000 | - 1 400 | - 1.1% |
| Diploma | 2 500 | 2 800 | + 300 | + 1.2% |
| Sub-degree | 5 600 | 7 700 | + 2 100 | + 3.3% |
| First degree | 37 400 | 49 600 | + 12 200 | + 2.9% |
| Post-graduate | 11 700 | 16 700 | + 5 000 | + 3.6% |
| Total | 72 300 | 90 000 | + 17 800 |
+ 2.2% |
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
IT Workers
Overall Trend
There are IT workers (such as IT managers, system analysts and programmers) engaging in other sectors, apart from the IT&IS sector. For instance, there are workers taking up IT jobs in such sectors as Financial services; Import, export, wholesale and retail trades, as well as Social and personal services. The total number of IT workers required across all economic sectors was about 90 400 in 2016. With wide application of IT to improve work efficiency in various sectors and the trends of adopting technologies, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, cyber security and Fintech in business processes, the economy-wide requirements for IT workers are anticipated to grow remarkably at an average annual rate of 2.5% to 119 000 in 2027.
Manpower Requirement of the IT Workers by Economic Sector
| Economic Sector |
Actual manpower requirements in 2016& Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2016 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2016 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import, export, wholesale and retail trades, accommodation and food services | 16 700 | 16 700 | + 100 | ** |
| Information and communications | 38 200 | 59 600 | + 21 400 | + 4.1% |
| Financial services, real estate, professional and business services | 17 100 | 19 100 | + 2 000 | + 1.0% |
| Social and personal services | 14 500 |
19 600 |
+ 5 100 |
+ 2.8% |
| Others# | 4 000 | 4 000 | - 100 | - 0.1% |
| Total | 90 400 | 119 000 | + 28 500 | + 2.5% |
& The actual manpower requirements of IT workers were compiled based on findings of the “2016 Manpower Survey on Information Technology Sector” conducted by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), which were the latest available information at the time the projection was being compiled.
# “Others” include Manufacturing; Electricity, gas, water and waste management; Construction; Transportation, storage, postal and courier services.
** Rate of change within ±0.05%
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
With the wide-spread application of IT at the workplace, the on-going development on technology measures including artificial intelligence, data analytics and robotics technologies and their potential adoption in various business processes, the total requirements for IT workers are projected to be on an upward trend at an average annual rate of 2.5% during the projection period to 119 000 in 2027.
Manpower Requirement of the IT Workers by IT-related Occupation Group
| IT-related occupation group |
Actual manpower requirements in 2016& Number |
Projected manpower requirements in 2027 Number |
Projected change from 2016 to 2027 | Projected average annual rate of change (2016 − 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT managers | 7 000 | 9 200 | + 2 200 | + 2.5% |
| IT professionals | 47 400 | 64 900 | + 17 500 | + 2.9% |
| IT associate professionals | 30 200 | 36 100 | + 5 800 | + 1.6% |
| IT sales workers |
5 800 |
8 800 |
+ 3 000 |
+ 3.8% |
| IT personnel | 90 400 | 119 000 | + 28 500 | + 2.5% |
& The actual manpower requirements of IT workers were compiled based on findings of the “2016 Manpower Survey on Information Technology Sector” conducted by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), which were the latest available information at the time the projection was being compiled.
Note: Individual figures may not add up to the totals due to rounding.
