Three promising industries for Hongkongers in the UK

After quitting their jobs and moving to the UK, many Hongkongers are asking “Now what do I do?”

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports the unemployment rate in the UK as 4.3% in 2021, indicating that the labour market as a whole is doing ‘pretty good’, all things considered.

So how will the newly arriving Hongkongers fit into the labour marketplace?

A survey by Hongkongers in Britain gives us a rough picture of what kind of professionals are arriving in the UK from Hong Kong.

– Well educated: 44.4% have an undergraduate degree

– Financially stable: 55% had an annual income of at least GBP 36,000 while employed in HK

– Experienced: 32% have 21 years or more of work experience

Overall, this group can be generally described as a ‘high-potential’ labour force, and the UK government also recognises that. But despite these strengths, there are bound to be teething problems when there is such a big transition, and many first-movers are still struggling to find their footing in the UK.

With London and Hong Kong both being international finance centres, jobs related to finance or IT will of course be natural choices and the most sought after. But this unavoidably means that competition will be more intense, both amongst the UK locals and the newly arrived Hongkongers.

As a first step into the employment market, retail, admin and transportation seem to be popular choices. But what are some other sectors in the UK that hold long-term promise for Hongkongers?

E-commerce: E-commerce is forecasted to take up 38.6% of all retail sales in the UK by 2025. That’s near half of all things retail. Considering that same number was 21.5% in 2019, you get a sense of how fast it’s growing. Amazon is a huge player, but there are also UK companies such as Tesco and Gymshark that are swinging hard and fast.

Healthcare support: The healthcare industry has only accelerated after the pandemic. And with an increasing senior population, this is a sector that could always use more hands on deck. No surprises there. But you don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to be in healthcare. Although many specialist jobs in this sector require specific qualifications, there is a growing demand for general business support roles such as HR, admin, accounting and finance as well.

Green energy: The UK government has big plans to make the UK the world leader in green energy. GBP 160 million is already set aside for infrastructure, and they’re not being shy about creating jobs in this sector. This includes jobs in green manufacturing, supply chain, construction and engineering.