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News about job creation, job losses, labour disputes, wage trends and other developments from around the world with a focus on Hong Kong and China.
Director of the US National Economic Council Kevin Hassett speaks to reporters outside the White House last month. Photo: AFP
United States

Shutdown crippled US jobs report, so no unemployment rate: Trump adviser

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett also said he expects the government closure to reduce fourth-quarter GDP by 1.5 per cent.

China jobs

Fair wages: China’s young jobseekers take their résumés to trade expos

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Artificial intelligence

Meta Platforms’ AI lay-offs triggered by resource competition: ex-researcher

Bangladesh

Malaysian firms accused of exploiting Bangladeshi workers in wage dispute

The workers are seeking unpaid wages and compensation for 431 Bangladeshi labourers allegedly exploited by two Malaysian companies.

Bangladeshi workers who were employed by Malaysian companies protest in front of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Monday. Photo: AP
China economy

Opinion | To become a developed nation, China must still prioritise manufacturing

The question is not whether manufacturing endures, but how Beijing can turn its industrial might into productivity growth across all sectors.

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DeepSeek

China’s DeepSeek makes rare comment, calls for AI ‘whistle-blower’ on job losses

Remarks by CEO Liang Wenfeng’s delegate highlight potential dangers of race to build superintelligent systems.

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Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

No place to call home: plight of Hong Kong’s pregnant domestic helpers

Support groups say helpers who become pregnant often face losing their jobs, separation from babies.

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Illustration: Brian Wang
Hong Kong property

European private equity firm Ardian eyes fresh growth at new Hong Kong office

Ardian’s expansion in Hong Kong reflects robust growth in the city’s private banking and wealth management sectors.

China jobs

China’s civil service exam sees record-breaking applicant pool after age range expansion

Tough job market, wider age thresholds create China's largest candidate cohort for public sector positions, treasured for their stability.

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United States

US Fed lowers key rate, but Powell says December cut not guaranteed

The central bank’s second consecutive quarter-point cut seeks to bolster the flagging US labour market.

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds a press conference in Washington after the Fed cut interest rates by quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Global companies ratchet up job cuts amid weak sentiment, AI push

The occupations most likely to be affected would be where entry-level work is replaced with automation, Bank of America economists say.

US Federal Reserve officials worry that the current “low-hiring, low-firing” environment could slip towards faster lay-offs. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong must ensure labour import scheme does its job

Policymakers should make sure the scheme addresses the worker shortage in certain industries while also preventing abuse and keeping options open for local talent.

China economy

Opinion | Time for China to set an explicit household consumption target

As Beijing’s five-year plan shapes up to follow a familiar agenda, policymakers need to focus on invigorating the consumer’s role as a more powerful driver of growth.

China jobs

China’s youth jobless rate falls but remains high after record graduation season

Unemployment hits 17.7 per cent among those 16 to 24, down from 18.9 per cent in August, as graduates face competitive labour market.

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A scene at a job fair for Shanghai University graduates at the Minhang campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University last month. Statistics show youth unemployment is worryingly high after a bumper crop of university graduates entered the job market in August. Photo: Xinhua
Japan

Japan Post stops forcing delivery staff to ride bicycles as punishment

The policy was scrapped after a postman was made to cycle for two weeks in temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius for a minor infraction.

A postman sorts mail near a postbox in Japan. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s social work, construction sectors hit as jobless rate rises to 3.9%

Unemployment in food and beverage sector unchanged, while improvements seen in financing and health, Census and Statistics Department says.

The Philippines

US call centre bill threatens Philippines’ US$30 billion outsourcing boom

Nearly 2 million Filipinos’ jobs are on the line, with the BPO sector under siege from US protectionism and the rise of AI.

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European Union

Greece passes 13-hour workday law, sparking union fury and protests

The new law allows longer shifts in the private sector with higher pay, but critics worry about exploitation despite government assurances.

Protesters gather near the Greek parliament in Athens on Tuesday during a one-day strike as lawmakers debate a government plan to allow employers to extend working hours. Photo: Reuters
China economy

Opinion | How China can position its K visa for success in race for global tech talent

Beijing must assuage local concerns while ensuring transparent selection, institutional support and the equitable integration of foreigners.

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Bangladesh

16 killed in chemical warehouse, garment factory fire in Bangladeshi capital

The fire started on the third floor of a seven-storey factory, before spreading to a chemical warehouse that stored bleaching powder.

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Crime in Hong Kong

16 arrested in Hong Kong in crackdown on domestic helpers breaching work terms

Suspects include 10 illegal workers and six employers rounded up over three-day period, authorities say.

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The suspected illegal workers were all female, mainly of Indonesian or Filipino nationality, aged between 26 and 43, an immigration officer has said. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong workers’ 2.7% pay rise lowest since Covid pandemic: study

Data from 167 companies between January and September shows a 0.5 percentage point decrease in average salary growth compared with last year.

The Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management has found that the average salary growth was 2.7 per cent, a 0.5 percentage point decrease compared with last year. Photo: May Tse
Pakistan

‘Modern slavery’: child labour still common in Pakistan

One in four households in the country employs a child as a domestic worker, mostly girls aged 10 to 14.

Singapore

Singapore 2025 wage growth lowest in Southeast Asia, edges out Hong Kong: study

The Salary Increase and Turnover Survey reveals that wages in the city state grew by 4.3 per cent this year, versus Hong Kong’s 3.9 per cent.

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How to network

Worried your career is stagnating by working from home? Tips to stand out

Personal impressions often determine chances for promotion or recognition, but how can you do that when not in the office? Follow these tips.

Working from home has become the new norm for many, but do not let your lack of office time affect your career advancement with these tips. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

‘It’s so easy’: how AI is reshaping home design in Singapore

More homeowners in Singapore are turning to generative AI tools to plan renovations, with an eye on cost savings and greater flexibility.

A neighbourhood park amid Singapore’s public housing blocks. More homeowners in Singapore are turning to generative AI tools to plan renovations instead of hiring interior designers. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s tightened imported labour rules still vex local workers

The city faces a paradox where business leaders repeatedly sound the alarm over labour shortages, yet many locals are struggling to find jobs.

Britain

What’s your best offer? UK firms turn cagey about salary in employers’ market

Only 56 per cent of online job postings last month included wage information, data shows.

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