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Overall, more than half of the companies surveyed are likely to reduce non-essential recruitment, while over one-third expect average salary increases of 3% to 5%.
Amidst an evolving talent landscape and economic complexities, the biggest HR challenge faced by Hong Kong companies will continue to be hiring talent with the right skills, while adhering to tighter corporate budgets, according to Randstad's 2025 job market outlook and salary guide.
The report revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) cited a shortage of talent with the required skills as the primary talent acquisition challenge for their organisation in 2025.
Additionally, 46% struggle to meet salary expectations, and 26% face intense competition for skilled workers, particularly those with niche expertise.
To address these challenges, 30% of companies plan to increase their budgets for hiring technical roles in 2025.
Meanwhile, 62% anticipated that further tightening of corporate budgets will also be a major HR challenge this year. In that sense, organisations will be more cautious in their talent acquisition approach while managing costs effectively. About 52% of companies are likely to reduce non-essential recruitment, and 30% plan to focus on building internal talent acquisition capabilities to reduce agency costs.
On the other hand, positive outlook can be seen regarding salaries. More than one-third (36%) of companies are expected to offer average salary increases ranging from 3% to 5%, while 28% will issue bonuses equivalent to one to two months' salary as a reward for employees' work in 2024.
Let's dive deeper into the trends by industry.
Human Resources
HR professionals are expected to serve as trusted advisors to various stakeholders, providing critical insights on workforce planning, employee engagement, and organisational culture.
There is a growing trend among employers in Hong Kong to hire talent acquisition (TA) talent who can support succession planning.
While the overall demand for learning and development talent has decreased, there is a heightened expectation for them to develop and implement robust skills development programmes to build a good leadership pipeline.
There’s also increasing expectation for HR leaders to develop HR initiatives that focus on wellness, especially as more employees seek mental health support. When hiring compensation and benefits (C&B) specialists, employers want professionals who can truly make a difference at work.
Employers are increasingly looking for HR candidates with strong soft skills, especially those who excel at handling difficult conversations.
Employers are expected to keep offering competitive salary increases of 15% to 20% for high-calibre mid to senior HR professionals specialising in organisational development (OD) and business partnering (BP).
For junior to middle-level HR roles, the anticipated salary increase is slightly lower, ranging from 10% to 15%. The outlook for bonuses remains conservative, with average payouts ranging from 1 to 1.5 months.
Salary guide:
|
Low |
Middle |
High |
|
| Compensation & benefits specialist |
HK$28,000 |
HK$35,000 |
HK$38,000 |
|
Technical recruiter |
HK$45,000 |
HK$50,000 |
HK$55,000 |
|
HRBP |
HK$50,000 |
HK$55,000 |
HK$60,000 |
|
L&D director |
HK$70,000 |
HK$80,000 |
HK$100,000 |
Banking & financial services
Corporate and transaction banks are showing signs of slowing, as employers now have more specific hiring criteria and are taking longer to approve new headcounts.
Front-office hiring is likely to remain quiet in 2025, except for private banks and wealth management, which will see positive developments and active talent movement. Recruitment for middle and back-office roles is expected to focus on replacing existing headcount rather than creating new positions.
In-demand skills for front office:
- good client network
- programming skills
- data analytics
- proficiency in data visualisation tools
In-demand jobs for middle & back offices.:
- credit risk
- enterprise risk
- compliance
- anti-money laundering
- know-your-customer
Salary guide:
|
1 - 3 years |
3 - 6 years |
7 - 10 years |
10+ years |
|
|
Investment risk & portfolio risk |
HK$25,000 - 40,000 |
HK$40,000 - 65,000 |
HK$65,000 - 80,000 |
HK$100,000+ |
|
Regulatory compliance |
HK$30,000 - 45,000 |
HK$45,000 - 65,000 |
HK$65,000 - 100,000 |
HK$100,000+ |
|
Private banking relationship manager |
HK$65,000 - 80,000 |
HK$80,000 - 110,000 |
HK$120,000 - 180,000 |
HK$200,000+ |
Construction, property & engineering
Hiring activities in the construction and property industry are expected to remain stable in 2025. The recruitment landscape will likely be characterised by “musical chairs,” a term used to describe talent mobility without net job creation in the industry.
In-demand jobs:
- electric & mechanical engineers
- building services professionals
- sales & marketing talent
Salary guide:
| Low |
Middle |
High |
|
|
Property sales officer |
HK$18,000 |
HK$23,000 |
HK$24,000 |
|
Architect |
HK$50,000 |
HK$58,000 |
HK$62,000 |
|
Property director |
HK$80,000 |
HK$100,000 |
HK$130,000 |
Insurance
Front office roles within agency and partnership distributions are particularly dynamic, as companies are likely to increase headcount to drive sales. There is a noticeable trend of employers seeking high-potential fresh graduates and junior sales professionals who can replicate past successes for agency teams.
In-demand skills:
- project management
- transformation initiatives
- data analytics
Salary guide:
|
Low |
Middle |
High |
|
|
Customer service officer |
HK$17,000 |
HK$22,000 |
HK$25,000 |
|
Product manager |
HK$50,000 |
HK$58,000 |
HK$68,000 |
|
Head of bancassurance |
HK$120,000 |
HK$150,000 |
HK$180,000 |
Legal
The legal industry is currently in flux driven by a shift in hiring expectations that follow the digital transformation and overall shifts from other sectors. Most hiring will be driven by changes in the legal landscape, including changing requirements and evolving business needs.
In-demand skills:
- equity derivatives
- FICC
- prime brokerage
- ISDA negotiation
Salary guide:
|
Low |
High |
|
|
PRC / Hong Kong law firms (newly qualified) |
HK$50,000 |
HK$83,000 |
|
Offshore law firms (newly qualified) |
HK$75,000 |
HK$95,000 |
|
Legal consultant (1 - 2 years) |
HK$100,000 |
HK$125,000 |
Sales & marketing
Sales talent is in high demand, as 34% of respondents expect hiring to be more competitive for sales and business development talent. Companies are now prioritising candidates with strong self-motivation, communication skills, and the ability to quickly adapt to new environments.
In-demand skills:
- digital marketing
- content creation
- customer relationship management
- social media management
- data analytics
- effective communication
- critical thinking
- teamwork
- leadership adaptability
Salary guide:
|
Low |
Middle |
High |
|
|
Event manager |
HK$30,000 |
HK$40,000 |
HK$50,000 |
|
Marketing manager |
HK$35,000 |
HK$50,000 |
HK$70,000 |
|
Sales director |
HK$60,000 + comms |
HK$80,000 + comms |
HK$110,000 + comms |
Lead image / Randstad's 2025 job market outlook and salary guide
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