New report reveals employers' growing focus on experience, part-time roles
Employers in Hong Kong are being "more stringent" in their screening process amid surging volumes of job candidates in the past year, according to a new report from JobsDB by SEEK.
Its latest annual employment data revealed that employers in Hong Kong are being more particular about the candidates they hire, even raising advertised salaries by four per cent to ensure they find suitable candidates.
"In the current market climate, we've observed that employers are more stringent in their screening process, prioritising candidates with relevant work experience who can contribute from day one," said Bill Lee, managing director, Hong Kong, JobsDB by SEEK.
Trends in job ads
The sport and recreation sector logged the biggest increase in job advertisements across all sectors in 2025, followed by the healthcare and medical sector.
On the other hand, job postings declined in the following sectors:
- Call centre and customer service
- Retail and consumer products
- Administration and office support
According to the report, these shifts in employee demand are aligned with the global trend of widespread AI adoption.
"AI technology is automating many repetitive work processes, leading to a significant transformation in employers' skill requirements for employees, with a greater emphasis on higher-order capabilities such as interpersonal communication, strategic thinking, and leveraging AI tools to create value," the report read.
Flexible hiring models growing
Flexible hiring models are also on the rise to navigate diverse market conditions, according to the findings.
While full-time permanent roles remain the primary focus of recruitment, the report found that there was a 75% annual increase in job advertisements for part-time positions.
Sectors that recorded the biggest increase in part-time roles include:
- Administration and office support
- Healthcare and medical
- Hospitality and tourism
"Notably, while overall job advertisements for administration and office support roles recorded a significant decline, part-time positions in this sector rose significantly against the trend," the report read.
"This suggests that employers of those roles may be converting some roles into part-time roles to enhance workforce flexibility."
This employment flexibility has also been demonstrated with Hong Kong's growing focus on contractor roles.
In 2025, a report from Robert Walters revealed that employers are ramping up benefits offered to contractors, such as medical coverage, leave days, and completion bonuses.
"Employers are recognising that contractors bring not just flexibility, but deep expertise," said Vivian Tsang, associate director at Robert Walters Hong Kong, in a previous statement.
"We're seeing a shift where contractors are trusted with high-stakes work, and companies are aligning benefits and engagement strategies to reflect that."
Surging volume of job applications
These findings come in the wake of surging volumes of job applications in Hong Kong, according to JobsDB.
The average number of applications per job advertisement on the platform surged by 58% year-on-year, with the financial hub recording its fifth consecutive quarterly growth on job applications.
The same report also noted that jobseekers are being more proactive when it comes to applications, submitting an average of more than 100 applications per month, up 33% year-on-year.
"Looking ahead to 2026, the job market is expected to remain highly fluid," Lee said. "While overall hiring demand will show a degree of resilience, the environment will be characterised by the dual forces of ongoing transformation and intense competition."
