Almost 80% of mainland China, HK employers prioritise employee upskilling

Investors also reject choosing between workforce investment and artificial intelligence.

More than seven in 10 (78%) of Hong Kong and China investors believe that companies need to increase their investments in upskilling employees, according to a PWC report.

The report also found that investors reject choosing between workforce investment and artificial intelligence (AI) emphasising that companies should invest in both to maximise growth potential.

Moreover, 66% urge companies to boost investments in reducing carbon emissions as they expect greater benefits such as promoting risk mitigation (64%), effective corporate governance (64%), and competitive advantage (62%).

“Investors should continue prioritising action on climate as it has a real bearing on business whether through physical or transition risks,” Ivy Kuo, PWC's Asia Pacific sustainability leader, said.

However, investors show cautious optimism, with 54% expecting global economic growth in 2025. They also believe the companies they invest in will be exposed to macroeconomic volatility (51%), cyber risks (49%), and geopolitical conflicts (46%).