Young workers say they are ‘poor’

NEARLY two out of five younger workers describe themselves as ‘working poor’. The Federation of Youth Groups (青年協會) interviewed 522 people aged 15 to 34 between September and October, of whom 298 are employed.

Of those holding jobs, 37.8 percent consider themselves working poor and 52.2 percent said they are not. The rest did not know, or found it difficult to say.

The Federation defines young working poor as someone aged 15 to 34 earning an average of HK$8,315 a month, with savings of under HK$79,500. Under this definition, there are about 104,300 younger working poor, the Federation said.

Of the respondents currently employed, only 149 disclosed their salaries. Of these, about 11 percent said they make less than HK$8,999 a month, while 39 percent earn HK$9,000 to HK$13,999. Thirty-seven percent said they are paid HK$14,000 to HK$24,999 monthly, and 12 percent earn more than HK$20,000.

The top four factors blamed are high rents, low education levels, too few job opportunities, and the high cost of living.

Thirty-six percent said they need HK$10,000 to HK$13,999 a month to sustain a basic livelihood if they live at home, while 21 percent said HK$8,000 to HK$9,999 would be enough. Those polled said a stable long-term, continuing education, professional training, and promotion would help them.

(The Standard, 19 November 2014)