London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 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
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×