Hong Kong HR salary guide: How much will you be worth in 2020?

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According to just-published findings, the most in-demand HR roles for 2020 in Hong Kong will be in business partnering, learning & development, employee engagement and compensation & benefits.

A total of 45% of HR professionals in Hong Kong will be looking to change jobs in 2020 – while 64% expect to remain in a role for 3-5 years.

These are the key takeaways from a comprehensive report by Robert Walters that analyses salaries across all sectors, while taking the pulse of all countries across the region.

Scroll down for the full 2020 salary guide for Hong Kong HR professionals.

The report also revealed that the top four motivating factors for HR professionals are better C&B (73%), better company culture (48%), career progression (45%) and improved work-life balance (38%).

“HR business partners with previous transformation experience and employer branding expertise are expected to be in high demand for talent attraction and retention,” said Ricky Mui, managing director for Robert Walters, Hong Kong.

Offering advice on recruitment trends for next year, Mui added: “With niche skills in short supply and candidates cautious about moving roles in 2020, hiring managers need to be decisive about the attributes they are looking for, ensuring an efficient and well-communicated hiring process.

“In a period where salary budgets are tight, companies need to demonstrate to candidates, the presence of a positive workplace culture where flexible working, workspace design and digital technology all play an important role.”

In terms of Hong Kong’s top HR earners for 2020, HR directors in a permanent role in the finance sector boasted the biggest annual salary, with an expected range of HK$1.2–1.8 million – this is up from 2019’s top end figure of HK$1.6 million.

Also read: HR directors in Singapore can earn S$300,000 or more in 2020

In mainland China the picture was somewhat different. A total of 81% of HR professionals expect to stay in a role for 3-5 years (higher than Hong Kong), while 38% of mainland HR professionals did not feel optimistic about job opportunities in the sector.

The most in-demand roles in China in 2020 are tipped to be business partnering, change management, talent acquisition and retention & development.

In terms of the biggest earners, mainland China has gazumped Hong Kong with a HR director in Shanghai predicted to earn an annual salary of up to 1.8 million RMB, while a HR director in Beijing will be able to earn up to an enviable 3.0 million RMB annually.