Retraining Opens New Career Pathways: Unemployed Workers Move into Care Services, Carers Transition to Chinese Medicine
(25 March 2026, Hong Kong) – Amid changes in the employment market in recent years, many people have found themselves needing to embark on a new career path. Courses offered by the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) have provided an effective pathway for some unemployed and middle-aged individuals to re-enter the workforce, with sectors facing strong manpower demand, such as care services and Chinese medicine, attracting particular interest. Through relevant training, some trainees have successfully transitioned into new professions and regained a clear sense of direction in their careers.
As one of the training bodies offering relevant ERB courses, Hong Kong College of Technology (“HKCT”) has in recent years supported many trainees seeking a career change. Among them are individuals who have moved from the fitness industry to frontline care services, as well as those who have entered the Chinese medicine sector in middle age while navigating unemployment and family pressures. Their experiences demonstrate the practical role of retraining programmes in helping people respond to the changing employment landscape.
From Fitness Trainer to Guardian of the Elderly: A Bowl of Wonton Noodles Inspires Compassion in Care
Former fitness trainer Ma Wai-ho decided to make a career change during the pandemic, moving into the care sector where there was a shortage of manpower. He enrolled in the ERB Certificate in Health Worker Training course and, upon completion, began working at a residential care home for the elderly, where he cares for residents living with dementia.
Ma recalled that the transition was not easy at first. Previously, he had worked with physically fit and healthy clients, but his new role required him to care for elderly residents with mobility difficulties and emotional challenges on a daily basis. “Even when I did my best to reassure the residents with calmness and professionalism, seeing elderly people feeling lost and helpless could still be heartbreaking,” Ma recalled a story shared by one of his teachers during class about an elderly woman nearing the end of her life whose only wish was to have a bowl of wonton noodles. After her wish was fulfilled, she passed away peacefully. “It made me realise that care professionals must strike a balance between maintaining calm ‘professional boundaries’ and providing compassionate ‘human care’.”
Ma has now chosen care services as his lifelong career. After completing the course, he became even more determined to further his studies and enrolled in an Enrolled Nurse training programme. He hopes to enhance his professional knowledge and skills while continuing to carry forward the compassion and sense of responsibility that inspired him to embark on this new career.
An Unemployed Carer’s Marathon Mindset: Mastering the Herbal Medicine Cabinet to Forge a New Career in Chinese Medicine
Another trainee, Lam Wai-yin, embarked on a career transition while coping with both unemployment and family responsibilities. Having experienced the loss of family members from a young age, she had long taken on multiple jobs to shoulder the responsibility of caring for her family. During the pandemic, she was made redundant while simultaneously dealing with a physical injury and a family member’s sudden stroke, leaving her at one of the lowest points in her life. It was while receiving treatment that she came into contact with Chinese medicine, inspiring her to consider a new career path and enrol in the ERB Foundation Certificate in Chinese Medicine Clinic Assistant Training course.
Starting a new career in middle age was far from easy. With little experience in the field, Lam initially faced doubts about her abilities. Drawing on the resilience, endurance and self-discipline she had developed through years of long-distance running, as well as a determination to “never give up”, she persevered in memorising the locations of the many herbal medicines stored in the traditional Chinese medicine cabinet, along with the clinic’s operational procedures.
Through persistence and hard work, she gradually built up practical experience and eventually earned the recognition of her employer. She progressed from probation to permanent employment and was subsequently promoted.
Lam described the ERB course as giving her the courage to start afresh, enabling her to regain her footing and move forward despite adversity.
Commitment to Quality Education and Teaching Excellence Drives the Development of Vocational and Professional Education
As demand for training continues to grow, increasing attention is being placed on the quality of relevant programmes and the support provided to trainees. With its solid track record in talent development and employment support, Hong Kong College of Technology (“HKCT”) received a total of 12 awards at the ERB Annual Award Presentation Ceremony 2025-26, held yesterday (24 March 2026), in recognition of its outstanding achievements in these areas.
Notably, HKCT remains the only institution to have received the “ERB Course Development Award” for 16 consecutive years since the award was introduced. It also received the “ERB Online Training Award” for the fourth consecutive year and the “ERB Placement Service Award” for the 10th time, alongside multiple awards recognising its trainees and instructors. These accolades reaffirm HKCT’s outstanding performance and sustained commitment to talent development, quality training and employment support.
Mr Hui Chark-shum, JP, Commissioner for Labour (fifth from left), presents the “ERB Placement Service Award” to Professor Chan Cheuk-hay, President of HKCT (second from right).
Mr So Pak-chan, MH, Member of the Employees Retraining Board (second from left), presents the “ERB Online Training Award” to Professor Lee Wai-chi, Vice President of HKCT (first from right).
Mr Tam Chi-chung, MH, Member of the Employees Retraining Board (centre), presents the “ERB Promotion Award” to Ms Chan Kit-yee, Associate Vice President of HKCT (second from right).
Ms Alice Wong Nga-lai, Member of the Employees Retraining Board (fourth from left), presents the “ERB Course Development Award” to Mr Lo Wing-leung, Assistant Director of HKCT Vocational Training Institute (third from right).
Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun Yuk-han (centre), presents the “ERB Outstanding Trainee Award” to an HKCT awardee.
