Hong Kong 2026 Hiring Market Outlook and Salary Trends

After two years of economic uncertainty, the city's IPO resurgence and development are restoring confidence among employers and employees. However, employers and candidates remain cautious, as businesses continue to prioritise cost efficiencies and savings, while strong candidates are more risk-averse amid job security concerns over the past two to three years. Salary expectations and employer budgets remain misaligned, posing one of the biggest challenges for companies seeking quality talent, according to John Mullally, Managing Director at Robert Walters Hong Kong.

Read on to find out more about John’s expectations for Hong Kong’s hiring market in 2026.

IPO momentum restores confidence and hiring appetite

In 2025, Hong Kong recorded its strongest first-half IPO performance since 2021, with funds raised sevenfold year-on-year. The momentum has helped restore confidence in Hong Kong's role as a super connector for cross-border investment, reinforcing its position as a regional financial hub.

"Once known as the 'gateway to China,' the city is increasingly seen as a launchpad for outbound capital and international expansion for Chinese companies," said John Mullally, Managing Director of Robert Walters Hong Kong.

We're seeing renewed hiring activity across the financial services and professional services sector. This confidence is expected to carry into other sectors in 2026.

Across Hong Kong's job market, demand patterns are evolving in response to regulatory and technological shifts. Demand for AI talent remains strong, with companies competing for data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI product specialists. In financial services, Hong Kong's new stablecoin licensing regime (effective August 2025) is driving roles in compliance, risk management, and blockchain engineering.

Meanwhile, insurance and public sector hiring remains steady, driven by ongoing digitalisation and operational resilience initiatives. On the commerce side, technology hiring is expanding beyond traditional IT roles into areas such as e-commerce platforms, CRM analytics, and digital marketing, reflecting a pivot toward data-driven growth strategies.

Mismatch in expectations between employers and candidates

Despite the improving outlook, salary expectations and employer budgets remain misaligned. Job seekers are increasingly prioritising job security since 2023. With salary growth remaining flat and living costs rising, professionals are increasingly seeking double-digit increments to justify a move. This gap is prolonging hiring cycles and making it harder to secure top talent.

"Hiring managers often assume there's an abundance of talent, but the reality is quite the opposite," added Mullally.

Many strong candidates are still prioritising job stability and are hesitant to move without a compelling offer.

Statement of Work (SOW) gain momentum as employers seek agility

Hong Kong employers are increasingly adopting flexible hiring solutions to manage costs and maintain agility in an uncertain economic environment. While contract hiring remains common, Statement of Work (SOW) arrangements are emerging as a preferred model for project-based work. By clearly defining deliverables and timelines, SOW enables organisations to maintain control over budgets while ensuring accountability and quality outcomes.

This model is particularly popular in technology, digital transformation, and compliance projects, where speed, governance, and cost efficiency are critical.

AI adoption reshaping workforce structures

AI is reshaping workforce structures, and among employers adopting AI solutions, nearly half do so for workforce optimisation. Employers identified administration and business support, IT and digital transformation, and accounting and finance as the function most at risk of being replaced by AI.

"As AI takes over transactional tasks, the value of human-centric skills is rising. Relationship management, communication, and authentic client engagement are becoming key differentiators in an increasingly digital workplace." said John Mullally.

Find out more

Request access to our 2026 Salary Survey to benchmark salaries and to find out more about key hiring trends in Hong Kong.