A human resource body on Thursday said its research indicated the development and real estate sectors would need more workers in the next three years.

The Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management based the finding on a study of 300 companies in 20 sectors between April and June.

The study showed that the overall workforce in Hong Kong would grow by two percent by 2028.

The institute said demand for manpower in fields such as architecture, engineering, and construction was expected to grow by up to nine percent, due to major development projects such as the Northern Metropolis and Kau Yi Chau Artificial Island.

However, technological advances would lead to fewer jobs in the retail, transportation and media sectors.

The institute's president Lawrence Hung, called on the government to adjust its talent recruitment efforts accordingly.

"The government should actively listen to industry feedback, provide more proactive measures for businesses to fill vacancies, and adjust talent admission schemes based on actual circumstances to effectively attract overseas talent to supplement the local talent pool," he said in a statement.