17/09/2025
The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) welcomes the initiatives in the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address delivered today (17 September 2025) to support the reform of the ERB and strengthen local skills training. The host of measures will enhance the competitiveness of local human capital and boost the talent pool, further fostering the vision of sustainable development for Hong Kong and our country.
In response to the initiatives set out in the 2024 Policy Address to reform ERB to enhance its role and positioning to devise "skills-based" training for the entire local workforce, ERB has launched a series of reform measures starting from 2025. These include lifting the restriction on educational attainment of trainees, expanding the range of skills upgrading courses and enhancing career planning services, as well as strengthening collaboration with higher education institutions and enterprises, aiming to empower the entire workforce through upskilling and addressing the manpower needs in support of Hong Kong's economic development and industry transformation.
ERB is also undertaking an in-depth review and study and has already outlined an initial reform roadmap for the next three years, covering the strengthening of its industry consultative mechanism, identifying demand for and gaps in core skills in a targeted manner to devise a "skills-based" training framework, while collaborating with higher education institutions and guiding other training bodies in developing courses of various types and levels to fill the skill gaps. In future, ERB will also launch micro-credential courses recognised by industries to offer greater flexibility to trainees, and make good use of technology to offer diversified and flexible modes of learning. The full implementation plan for the reform will be submitted to the Government by the end of this year. ERB will also work closely with the Government on legislative amendments of the Employees Retraining Ordinance, with a view to advancing the development of a "skills-based" training strategy and encouraging continuous learning and upskilling for all.
The Chairman of ERB, Professor Simon Wong kit-lung said, "I fully welcome the Government's initiatives announced in the Policy Address to strengthen the training of local human capital. ERB will advance 'skills-based' training with innovation to encourage the public in pursuing lifelong learning and upskilling. Since expanding its service targets, ERB has launched a series of new skills training courses and brought more higher education institutions on board as appointed training bodies, striving to offer more advanced and diverse course options for trainees. To further elevate our training services, we have formulated an initial strategic roadmap for the next three years to steer our development. We remain fully committed to putting reform recommendations into action and developing training courses that align with core skills demand driven by industry development and business transformation. At the same time, we will continue to optimise our operational mode and partnership strategy as part of our efforts to deliver timely and relevant training services for the workforce, and to contribute responsively to developing skilled manpower for Hong Kong."
In a rapidly evolving environment shaped by technological advancements and economic restructuring, upskilling of the local workforce is more important than ever. ERB will continue to embrace a "Forward, Innovative and Versatile" approach, while working closely with stakeholders across sectors to advance skills training and nurture an adaptable workforce.
