3 in 5 working professionals in Hong Kong SAR plan on job change according to Hays Asia Salary Guide

Hong Kong SAR, 13 Mar 2025 – Insights from the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide reveal that 57 per cent of working professionals in Hong Kong SAR are planning to change jobs this year, over double the rate in 2024. 

The survey conducted by Hays across six locations including China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand in late 2024 gathered insights from 8,790 working professionals regarding their career plans in 2025. Respondents also answered questions related to previous job changes, their reasons for leaving their current organisation and their confidence in securing a new position. 

In Asia: More professionals exploring job changes 

58 per cent of professionals in Asia plan to explore employment alternatives this year, more than double the number who switched jobs in 2024 (25 per cent). Among them, 55 per cent are seeking a change in organisation, while three per cent are interested in becoming independent contractors. 

When asked about their motivations for leaving, 43 per cent cited a perceived lack of future opportunities, an increase from 35 per cent in 2024. Concerns about job security have also risen, reaching 22 per cent this year compared to 18 per cent in 2024. 

Conversely, priorities related to work-life balance have slightly decreased, with 15 per cent considering it a factor in career changes this year, down from 17 per cent in 2024. Additionally, 15 per cent are looking for more challenging roles, compared to 18 per cent last year. 

Hong Kong: Career growth a priority for professionals 

27 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong reported changing jobs in 2024, surpassed by Japan (29 per cent) and Thailand (32 per cent), and just ahead of China (26 per cent). However, career mobility appears to be accelerating this year, with more professionals expressing intentions to leave their organisations. 

“57 per cent of working professionals in Hong Kong intend to switch jobs this year,” said Sue Wei, Managing Director at Hays Greater China. “Among those seeking to transition, 50 per cent expressed interest in joining a different organisation, while 7 per cent were inclined to explore contracting opportunities.” 

Professionals in neighbouring China were less inclined to make a job change, with 44 per cent seeking other opportunities this year, the lowest percentage in Asia. Singapore matched Hong Kong on intentions to leave, with 57 per cent indicating a desire to change jobs this year. Professionals in Japan were the most likely to switch jobs in 2025, surpassing other locations at 66 per cent. 

In Hong Kong, the motivations for leaving were clear, with 46 per cent of working professionals citing a lack of future opportunities, slightly above the Asian average. Additionally, professionals indicated that they prioritise the potential for professional development when selecting a new role. 

"Beyond salary considerations, 42 per cent of working professionals in Hong Kong prioritise career development initiatives when selecting their next employer. Given the emphasis on employee retention in HR investment strategies for organisations in Hong Kong this year, leaders should consider integrating these initiatives into their Employee Value Proposition to retain critical talent," said Sue. 

Uncertainty in finding their next job 

When asked about their confidence in securing their next job, professionals in Hong Kong were less certain compared to their peers in China. 30 per cent of respondents were unable to say for sure when they would find a new job, while 5 expressed worry about landing their next role. An additional 30 per cent believed they would land a new role in 2025, while 26 per cent were optimistic of finding a new position by June. 

"These findings underscore the need for jobseekers in Hong Kong to actively seek out resources and support to navigate the uncertainties of the job market. By leveraging career development programs and networking opportunities, professionals can enhance their prospects of securing new roles," said Sue. 

 

A copy of the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide is available here. 

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About Hays Hong Kong SAR 
Hays Specialist Recruitment Hong Kong is the one of the leading specialist recruitment companies in Hong Kong SAR 
in recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people across a wide range of industries and professions. 
 
Hays has been in Hong Kong SAR for over a decade and boasts a track record of success and growth. At Hays in 
Hong Kong SAR, we operate across the private and public sector, dealing in permanent and contracting positions, and 
workforce solutions such as recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and Managed Service Programmes (MSP) in the 
following specialisms: Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Construction, Digital Technology, 
Engineering, Finance Technology, Human Resources, Information Technology, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, 
Marketing & Digital, Office Professionals, Property, Procurement, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Sales. We continue 
to strengthen our position in Asia with the world-leading ISO 9001:2015 certification in all our operational markets 
including Hong Kong SAR, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. 

About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. 
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 2024, the Group employed over 11,100 staff operating from 236 offices in 33 countries. 
For the year ended 30 June 2024:
– the Group reported net fees of £1,113.6 million and operating profit of £105.1 million.
– the Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles.
– 13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & 
Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW).
– the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business 
represented 41% of net fees.
– Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and 
Engineering (11%), are the next largest.
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, 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, Thailand, UAE, 
the UK, and the USA.