I have a decent job, but I’m worried about whether I can continue to be relevant and stay employable in the long term. The cost of living in Hong Kong is high and there are so many uncertainties. It’s stressful thinking about the future and whether I’ll be able to keep providing for my family. For now, I can, barely…there’s only so much the salary of a mid-level manager can afford.

I’m conscious of the fact that I’m only somewhat average in my education, skills and career. I already feel that the next generation are much more skilled than I am. I’m not very technologically literate — technology was not as common an influence from childhood as it is to today’s young. I have a bachelor’s degree, but there are so many more people now getting their master’s. I’m fluent in English and have conversational Cantonese, but my Mandarin is terrible and the positions in my industry where being bilingual is advantageous are increasingly favouring Mandarin.

I know that companies are embracing technological solutions that are starting to reduce and replace the need for human workers, especially those who don’t have specialist skills. I also read that there are even A.I. lawyers doing legal research for major law firms and A.I. robots taking over certain surgeries, so not even highly technical fields are safe. So what hope do I have as an average Joe?