Hong Kong hiring confidence returns in 2026 driven by IPO recovery

• 34% of employers plan to increase hiring volume in 2026.
• Only 30% of professionals report low confidence about the job market — a 16% drop from last year.
• 40% of professionals rank “job security & stability” among their top three things they value from an employer, up 1.7 percentage points from the same time in 2024.
• 81% of professionals expect a 10%+ salary increase to change jobs, with most candidate (30%) expecting 16-20% increments, but 83% of employers plan to offer less than 6%.
• 69% of employers cite a lack of quality candidates with the right skills/expertise as their top hiring challenge.
• 58% of employers have introduced AI in the workplace, 49% of them with an objective to optimise headcount, reporting various roles which are most at risk including administration, accounting & finance and IT.
• Demand for AI talent remains high, and new roles are emerging in response to Hong Kong’s stablecoin licensing regime.

HONG KONG SAR – – Robert Walters is the world’s most trusted talent solutions business. Across the globe, we deliver recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing and advisory services for businesses of all shapes and sizes, opening doors for people with diverse skills, ambitions, and backgrounds. We help organisations find the skills and solutions to reach their goals and assist talented professionals to power their unique potential.

The Hong Kong office specialises in placing high-calibre professionals on a permanent or contract basis in the following specialities: accounting & finance, construction, property & engineering, financial services, HR & business support, legal & compliance, sales & marketing, supply chain, logistics & procurement, and tech & transformation.

About the –

Robert Walters Hong Kong surveyed up to 400 professionals and organisations in Hong Kong in September 2025 to gather feedback and concerns from both employers and employees on existing work practices, providing an overview of the current job market, in-demand skill sets and salary expectations for the year ahead. Salary ranges shown in the Robert Walters Salary Survey are based on an analysis of placements made across our network of offices and specialist disciplines during 2025.

Around the globe, employers and professionals alike have been relying on the Robert Walters Salary Survey to help them make critical decisions for their businesses and careers. The digital edition of the Salary Survey is a comprehensive guide to salaries for thousands of roles in 30 locations, and it is packed with helpful tools and resources for hiring managers and job seekers alike, including the latest trends and analysis for different industries, as well as video updates on market conditions from industry experts.

For details of the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2026, please contact us or visit: https://www.robertwalters.com.hk/our-services/salary-survey.html