Hong Kong workers face positive yet cautious job outlook in fourth quarter
While some employers plan to increase staff levels, others are taking a cautious approach amid concern over the Europe debt crisis
Hong Kong workers are facing a positive yet cautious job outlook in the fourth quarter of this year, a survey shows.
ManpowerGroup polled about 66,000 employers in 42 countries and cities in July, including 808 in Hong Kong.
While companies in each of eight places surveyed in Asia-Pacific plan to increase staff levels in the fourth quarter, growth has slowed except in New Zealand and Australia.
In Hong Kong, 16 per cent of employers said they planned to increase staff levels while 4 per cent planned to cut levels. This leaves the net employment growth outlook at 12 per cent.
However, actual hiring figures show growth has actually slowed by 3 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 9 per cent year-on-year.
"Hong Kong people can expect a positive but cautious employment outlook in the fourth quarter. While companies are still hiring, the growth has slowed down," said Lancy Chui Yuk-shan, managing director of the firm's Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam operations.