Hong Kong SAR enters 2026 with strong growth ambitions amid evolving workforce expectations, says Hays
New insights released by Hays, the global leader in specialist recruitment and workforce solutions, reveal five key trends shaping Hong Kong’s hiring landscape in 2026.
Despite ongoing economic headwinds, organisations across Hong Kong are navigating 2026 with a clear appetite for growth, while also facing heightened challenges around talent retention, workforce expectations and the rapid adoption of AI technologies.
Key findings for Hong Kong
1. Organisations are still looking to grow despite economic pressures
76 per cent of employers in Hong Kong cite growing their organisation as a key strategic priority for 2026.
Employers are focused on:
Expanding market share (33 per cent)
Improving competitiveness (40 per cent)
Increasing turnover (18 per cent)
Growth strategies are shifting toward targeted capabilities, critical roles and sustainable, productivity‑focused workforce planning rather than broad headcount expansion.
2. Talent retention emerges as a major barrier to growth
13 per cent of employers identify talent retention as their biggest obstacle to achieving organisational goals.
Market competitiveness and evolving employee expectations amplify retention challenges.
Career development, progression clarity and manager‑led engagement are emerging as key differentiators.
3. Flexible work remains a core attraction driver
42 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong say flexible working arrangements are important to them.
According to professionals. flexibility has a direct impact on:
Work‑life balance (61 per cent agree)
Productivity (50 per cent agree)
Retention and motivation (35 per cent agree)
Organisations embedding flexible models are better positioned to sustain performance and reduce attrition risk.
4. Conversational AI becomes part of everyday workflows
87 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong now use conversational AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot), slightly lower than the Asia average (92 per cent).
AI is being used to support productivity in areas such as multilingual content creation, analytics and decision‑making.
Employers must balance opportunity with governance through training, policy clarity and responsible‑use frameworks.
5. Junior‑level talent shortages are deepening
25 per cent of organisations in Hong Kong report difficulty hiring junior and entry‑level talent, the highest level in Asia.
Shifting expectations are amplifying this shortage, with 56 per cent of professionals placing high value on medical and life insurance benefits, far above the Asia average (41 per cent).
Employers are responding by strengthening their employment offer, with 62 per cent citing enhanced benefits packages as their most effective lever for attraction and retention.
Adrian Lam, Regional Director of Hays Hong Kong SAR
“Hong Kong’s organisations are navigating one of the most competitive talent landscapes in the region, and this year’s findings highlight just how quickly workforce expectations are shifting. Flexibility, meaningful development opportunities and the smart use of technology have all become essential to keeping teams engaged while driving performance.”
“Organisations that adapt with agility will be the ones that hold their edge in 2026.”
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 30 June 2025, the Group employed over 9,500 staff operating from 207 offices in 31 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.
Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK, and the USA.
