London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 25, 2025

Job loss fears because of Covid-19 higher in Hong Kong than Britain, US

Job loss fears because of Covid-19 higher in Hong Kong than Britain, US

New survey finds city’s residents more afraid of redundancy than counterparts in other parts of the world, leading to decline in sense of happiness and well-being.

Hongkongers are more afraid of being made redundant during the coronavirus pandemic than their counterparts in other major jurisdictions, according to the results of a new survey.

The study by C|T Group, a London-based research and campaign consultancy firm, found that fear had led to a declining sense of happiness and well-being among the city’s residents.

More than 35,000 people from Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, and the United States have been questioned by the firm in 14 polls since March on their expectations and perceptions of Covid-19, and the impact it has had on health and well-being.

The findings of the latest round were released on Friday. Of the 500 people polled this time around in each of the four markets, between September 11 and 13, 73 per cent of respondents in Hong Kong feared being made redundant, compared to 51 per cent, 38 per cent, and 36 per cent in the US, Australia, and Britain, respectively.

In response to the pandemic, 55 per cent of respondents in Hong Kong said they had reduced their daily spending, and nearly half said they had saved more money than usual. Both figures were the highest among the four markets.

More than one in five in Hong Kong said they had learned a new professional skill during the pandemic, compared to less than one in 10 in the other three markets.

Andrew Whitford, managing director of C|T Group in East Asia, said the anxiety around unemployment among Hongkongers might contribute to changes in habits, while economic and financial fears also damaged people’s sense of happiness and well-being.

“Fears of redundancy in Hong Kong remain high, and Hong Kong people are spending less and report feeling unhealthy,” he said.

Hong Kong has seen massive cuts in jobs and work hours since the coronavirus arrived in January, slamming the city’s economy. The unemployment rate in Hong Kong stood at 6.1 per cent during the period between June and August, with 248,300 unemployed, while the underemployment rate reached 3.8 per cent, the highest since the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic of 2003.

Compared to other markets, more respondents in Hong Kong felt the pandemic impacted their health negatively, and made them less happy.

Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong, who co-hosted Friday’s release of the new findings, said the results showed that Hong Kong people were frustrated about the impact of the pandemic on their lives, which could increase the threat of suicide.

“We have to pay more attention to people’s mental health, whether it is disrupted by job losses or isolation. We should take people’s mental well-being as a priority,” he said.


Hong Kong residents don’t expect life to return to normal for a year or two.


The results also showed that since March, expectations of returning to normal working life in all four markets lengthened. In Hong Kong, most respondents expected their working life to return to normal in one to two years.

Despite growing economic fears worldwide, most respondents in the four markets, with 62 per cent in Hong Kong, still favoured another lockdown if required, even at the risk of inflicting further harm to economies.

About two-thirds of respondents in Hong Kong believed the pandemic would not end until there was a vaccine, and many expected a vaccine to be ready early next year.

However, only about one-third said taking a vaccine should be compulsory, the findings showed.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
×