Hong Kong’s hospitality sector faces a critical challenge: there are 25 per cent fewer full-time staff post-pandemic, according to figures from the city’s Hotels Association. For restaurants and hotels striving to recover from pandemic losses, this shortage threatens their ability to bounce back and maintain service quality for more cost-conscious and discerning clientele.
The problem is compounded by a fundamental shift in the workforce. Many workers left Hong Kong during the pandemic, and those who remained have become more selective about their employment. “Many [younger people] are also chasing for meaning and purpose in their jobs … so they don’t last very long [in frontline work] and may change jobs quickly,” said Geoffrey Yau, a co-founder of employment agency Moovup, in 2023.
“Restaurants are struggling to source reliable staff promptly, which can significantly impact service quality and operational efficiency,” says Sandip Gupta, managing director of Hong Kong restaurant group S&S Hospitality. “Finding and hiring temporary or shift staff in Hong Kong has become increasingly challenging due to a shrinking pool of young people keen on joining the hospitality industry, ongoing labour market fluctuations and a high demand for skilled hospitality workers.”
