The average number of training hours an employee in Hong Kong undergoes has hit a 14-year high as companies push for greater technology adoption and skills upgrading, a survey has found.
According to the poll released by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management on Friday, average annual training hours per employee reached 19.4 last year.
This represented a 6.8 per cent increase from 18.1 hours in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of growth and the highest level recorded since 2011, when it stood at 19.9 hours.
The study collected responses from 127 companies across 18 different industries – including business services, banking, retail, catering and information technology – from February 10 to April 30 this year, covering nearly 80,000 full-time employees.
The additional hours reflected a growing emphasis among businesses on staff training, particularly a dual focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and soft skills, according to the findings.
“The increase in training hours is also driven by the fact that AI now affects colleagues across all levels, from senior and middle management to junior staff,” said Charles Ho Long-chau, co-chairman of the institute’s learning and development committee.
