Hong Kong Employers Cautiously Optimistic About Hiring

Despite C-suite executives being more positive about maintaining headcount, hiring expectations have decreased slightly year-over-year across most sectors.

By Maggie Mancini

C-level executives in Hong Kong are slightly more optimistic about hiring in 2025 compared to 2024, albeit with more uncertainty, according to research from KPMG. Overall headcount expectations have decreased slightly year-over-year across most sectors. The report highlights the growing importance of talent management for Hong Kong-based organisations, with employers increasingly focussing on attracting and retaining top talent. 

While C-suite leaders retain a more optimistic view of maintaining head count in 2025 (76%), the increasing uncertainty sweeping in suggests that employers will be more cautious in a challenging market. Additionally, 74% of respondents are expecting a pay raise in 2025, compared to 78% in 2024.  

Career moves are on a downtrend, as 14% of respondents report having moved jobs in 2024. This is compared to 15% in 2023 and 23% in 2022. At the same time, stability is increasingly sought after. More than a third (39%) of respondents put stability as their top non-monetary factor when choosing a new employer, up from 31% in 2024.  

Talent demand is adapting to market conditions, with 97% of C-level and HR respondents experiencing challenges in hiring the right talent, with 53% finding these challenges unmanageable.