Over 73pc HK employers embrace AI in workplace: survey

More than 70 percent of Hong Kong enterprises allow employees to use AI in the workplace, according to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM).

The survey, conducted between January and April, interviewed about 62,100 full-time employees from 115 companies across 17 different industries regarding employee training and development needs.

AI training among priorities for employee development

The results showed that 73 percent of companies allow employees to use AI at work, with AI training becoming one of the top five priorities for employee development.

Despite a slight decrease from last year's 77 percent, the figure reflects companies' increasing adaptability to new technologies and the growing demand for training to implement AI in the workplace to enhance efficiency.

"AI can reduce costs and improve effectiveness, marking a new trend in HR training," stated Chester Tsang Wing-cheong, HKIHRM's Executive Council member and Co-chairperson of the Learning and Development Committee.

Approximately 74 percent of surveyed companies had a budget for employee training and development last year, with the budget accounting for 4 percent of total annual base salaries, a slight decrease from 4.3 percent in 2023.

However, the percentage of the budget in terms of employees' annual base salaries slightly decreased from 3.8 percent to 3.1 percent last year.

Training expenditures dropped

During the same period, actual training expenditures as a proportion of base salaries also dropped from 3.8 percent to 3.1 percent, the survey revealed.

"Despite the uncertainties in the economic outlook for Hong Kong, companies continue to prioritize employee training and development," Tsang noted.

The survey also showed that local employees received an average of 18.1 training hours annually, a slight increase from 17.3 hours in 2023. 

Furthermore, companies' training budgets are expected to remain stable this year, with 59 percent of participating companies indicating that their training and development budgets would remain at the same levels.