New report reveals hiring slowdown eased demand for talent acquisition roles
Demand for HR talent in Hong Kong has remained steady through 2025, but recent slowdowns in hiring and automation have impacted demand for some positions, according to a new report.
The latest Hong Kong Salary Guide from Morgan McKinley revealed the most in-demand human resources roles in the financial hub.
It revealed that there was a clear shift in demand towards business-partnering and generalist functions.
"Organisations are prioritising HR professionals who can operate end-to-end across the employee lifecycle, with a particular appetite for HRBPs and HR Generalists in the HK$50–70K salary range," the report read.
On the other hand, it noted that demand for talent acquisition and pure compensation and benefits roles has softened.
"Demand has eased for talent acquisition and compensation and benefits/rewards professionals, reflecting both hiring slowdowns and increased automation within these areas," it said.
Most in-demand HR roles
The most in-demand roles for HR professionals in Hong Kong are:
- HR Business Partners
- HR Generalists
- Total Rewards Leads / Managers of Executive Compensation, Sales Incentives, Regulatory Reward Frameworks
- HRIS / People Analytics Leads
- Talent Acquisition Leads with front-office coverage
Meanwhile, the most valuable skill sets are:
- Business partnering and stakeholder management
- HR transformation and change delivery
- HR technology
- Data-driven workforce planning and people analytics
- Compensation and rewards modelling
- Project management and cross-functional collaboration
- Bilingual capability (Cantonese and Mandarin) for cross-border operations
When it comes to pay, annual salary increments have averaged around three to five per cent, according to the report. Professionals moving laterally can also expect a 10 to 15% uplift, depending on the function, industry, and HR system expertise.
"Looking ahead to 2026, modest salary growth is expected to continue, with premiums reserved for HR professionals driving transformation, analytics, and regulatory alignment," the report read.
'Selective' hiring still in play
Overall, employers across Hong Kong are still being "selective and measured" when it comes to hiring.
"Employers are expanding in key areas but are carefully evaluating each headcount against cost and long-term business value," the report read.
Average salary levels are expected to rise gradually this year, according to Morgan McKinley SAR Managing Director Marlon Mai.
Overall salary budgets are projected to return to around four per cent, with skilled professionals in AI, data, cybersecurity, and finance to see "strong demand."
"In a market defined by economic change and digital acceleration, talent remains the key competitive advantage," Mai said. "Companies that invest in their people, not just in recruitment but also in training, engagement, and retention, will be positioned for long-term success."
