Fresh Hong Kong graduates feel AI impact as degree pay advantage narrows

Fresh Hong Kong graduates are increasingly feeling the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) as they enter the workforce, human resources experts have said, after a survey found the starting salaries for degree holders and sub-degree graduates had narrowed.

The results of the latest annual survey by Baptist University found the disparity between the starting salaries of bachelor’s degree and sub-degree graduates narrowed by 17 per cent, or HK$500 (US$63.70), from HK$3,000 last year to HK$2,500 this year compared with 2025.

The experts urged the government to adjust its education strategies by taking into consideration the effects of AI on the job market while also encouraging students not to treat the technology as a threat.