Hong Kong has held the first recruitment fair under its 2026 Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme, opening more than 1,500 mainland-based positions to local graduates in a bid to deepen cross‑border talent flows.
The Labour Department event took place last Friday at the Cordis Hotel in Mong Kok, targeting Hong Kong residents aged 29 or below who are willing to work in Greater Bay Area mainland cities. Over 20 organisations took part, offering vacancies in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan and other GBA locations.
Roles ranged from algorithm and software engineers to assistant quantity surveyors, multimedia designers, accountants, HR officers and management‑trainee positions, reflecting demand from technology start‑ups, advanced manufacturers and services firms with cross‑border operations.
[See more: Greater Bay Area’s foreign trade surges 22.4 percent in the first two months of 2026]
Under the government‑subsidised scheme, companies that hire eligible graduates for 18‑month stints on the mainland receive a monthly allowance of up to HK$12,000 per employee, equivalent to around 60 per cent of salary, to offset payroll costs.
Participating employers must sign contracts governed by Hong Kong law, with clear terms on pay and benefits, to address concerns over labour protection.
Officials said the fair supports Chief Executive John Lee’s wider youth and talent strategy by giving young Hongkongers first‑hand exposure to the mainland economy while helping firms build integrated GBA teams. The Labour Department plans further rounds of recruitment activities.
