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However, 73% of them found it difficult to find the AI talent they needed amidst a looming AI skills gap.
The latest survey by Amazon Web Services (AWS) showed that Hong Kong workers with artificial intelligence (AI) skills and expertise could see salary hikes by up to 28%.
Covering more than 1,600 employees and 500 organisations in Hong Kong, the survey found that workers in information technology (28%) could enjoy the highest pay bumps, followed by research & development (27%) and sales & marketing (25%).
This comes amidst the strong demand for skilled talent stimulated by the great prospect of AI.
How is AI trending in Hong Kong
According to the findings, surveyed employers and workers believed that AI could boost organisations’ productivity and individual efficiency by 40% and 47% respectively. The top three productivity benefits from using AI they see are:
- improving workflow and outcomes (72% & 62%),
- automating repetitive tasks (66% & 60%), and
- supporting learning (53% & 50%)
Therefore, a total of 84% employers surveyed said they used AI-powered tools across their organisation in 2023, and this will increase to 94% of all organisations by 2028.
While most employers believed their IT department (90%) would be the biggest beneficiary, they also foresaw research & development (85%) and the business operations department (85%) driving significant value from AI.
More specifically, more than 90% employers and workers expected to use generated AI, a type of AI that can create new content and ideas quickly, on the job within the next five years. They believed that the tools could help with automating repetitive tasks (62%), increasing innovation and creativity (60%), and improving outcomes (56%).
Key industrial outlook
Delving deeper into key industries in Hong Kong, the research found that workers in the financial service sectors were the most positive (71%) about the impact of AI on their careers and organisations, compared to the manufacturing (69%), ICT (65%), and wholesale & retail trade sectors (57%).
Workers in the financial sector are in a more advanced position to reap the benefits of AI. A total of 91% have already been using AI today, and 81% said they are ‘intermediate’ or ‘advanced’ in AI fluency.
A looming AI skills gap in Hong Kong
However, to unlock the full productivity benefits of AI in Hong Kong, a looming AI skills gap should be bridged. Although a total of 80% Hong Kong workers indicated an interest in developing AI skills to accelerate their careers, 65% workers cited a lack of knowledge of the AI training programs available as a top barrier.
Employers are also facing difficulties caused by the AI skills gap in Hong Kong. According to the survey, hiring AI-skilled talent is a priority for 70% of employers, but 73% of them struggle to find the talents they need.
Moreover, 76% employers said they lack the knowledge to implement an AI workforce training programme. They also lack the financial resources to provide employees with AI training (70%), and time for employees to pursue AI training outside of core work responsibilities (69%).
Lead image / 123RF
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