Contracting gains momentum in Hong Kong as organisations turn to specialist expertise to meet rising skill demands

The latest findings from Hays’ The Evolving Role of Contracting in Asia report highlight how contracting is gaining traction in Hong Kong SAR as organisations seek more flexible ways to access skills, manage costs and deliver business outcomes.
 
Drawing on responses from 1,930 contractors and hiring managers across Asia and supplemented with findings from the 2026 Hays Asia Salary Guide, the report provides a comprehensive view of how contracting is evolving and the role it plays in addressing skill shortages and supporting workforce strategy.
 

Contracting use remains steadfast

Contracting adoption remains strong in Hong Kong, with 45 percent of organisations considering hiring contractors today. This reflects a growing shift in how organisations approach workforce planning, particularly as they look for faster and more flexible ways to access talent.
 
 
Recent trends also point to sustained growth in contractor demand. Over the past 12 months, 36 per cent of organisations increased their use of contractors, with 34 percent expecting demand to continue rising in the year ahead. While there was a small increase in organisations not planning to use contractors (from 11 percent to 15 percent), overall sentiment remains firmly growth-oriented.

This demand is being driven by several factors. More than half of organisations (56 percent) cite the need for flexibility of staffing costs, while 51 percent are looking to access specific skills for one-off projects. 44 percent are turning to contractors to supplement the difficulty of finding suitable permanent talent.
 

Competition for contractors is heating up

Yet as adoption of contracting continues to grow, a paradox has begun to emerge. In Hong Kong, 71 percent of organisations cite the limited availability of suitable candidates as the biggest barrier to securing top contract talent.
 
This reflects a broader environment where demand for experienced professionals continues to outpace supply, particularly for specialist and high-impact roles. As a result, organisations are under increasing pressure to act quickly and differentiate their approach to attracting contractors.
 

Benefits emerging as a key differentiator

As contracting becomes more established, contractor expectations are also evolving. Contractors in Hong Kong highlight the importance of benefits such as health insurance, paid time off and professional development as key components of their overall proposition.
 
However, there remains a gap between expectations and what is currently offered, with only 39 percent of contractors receiving any form of non-monetary benefits. This presents a clear opportunity for organisations to strengthen their contractor value proposition beyond pay alone.
Adrian Lam, Regional Director of Hays Hong Kong SAR, comments:
 
“Organisations in Hong Kong are navigating a dual talent challenge, with shortages affecting both permanent and contract hiring. Despite this, demand remains constant. Businesses still depend on contract talent to maintain cost flexibility and access specialist skills for project-based work, even as the market becomes increasingly constrained.
 
To respond effectively, leaders will need to take a more considered approach to how they position opportunities and engage talent across both hiring routes.”
 
Download the Evolving Role of Contracting in Asia report here.
 
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Contact
 
Bill Wang, Assistant Marketing Manager, Greater China, Hays  
T: +86 21 2322 9697
E: [email protected]
 
About Hays
 
Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in recruitment and workforce solutions. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 31 December 2025, the Group employed over 9,100 staff operating from 198 offices in 30 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2025: 
  • the Group reported net fees of £972.4 million and operating profit of £45.6 million. 
  • the Group placed around 46,400 candidates into permanent jobs and around 211,500 people into temporary roles. 
  • 12% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 36% in Rest of World (RoW). 
  • the temporary placement business represented 62% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 38% of net fees. 
  • Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%), Engineering (11%) and Construction & Property (11%), are the next largest.