Perception and Response to Employment Risks of Workers in Hong Kong

Rapid social changes in Hong Kong have increased employment risk. In response, the Government has adopted a workfare approach. Although this strategy may help some workers to get a job, it also contributes to individualize risk. Research conducted in Hong Kong in 2006-07 explored how workers perceived unemployment risks, how they cope with them, and how effective existing social policy was in helping people manage these risks. Findings showed that the coping abilities varied among different social sectors. Low-income groups were least likely to feel helped by social and workfare policy.