Short-term employment looks set to become a long-term staffing solution in Hong Kong, says Pallavi Anand, head of recruitment firm Robert Half. Despite the increase of multinational offices in the city, global economic uncertainty is prompting organisations to hold back on permanent headcount.
The increase in the number of multinational corporations (MNCs) opening up offices in Hong Kong does not necessarily translate to increase in headcount, says Anand. 'Hong Kong's proximity to the mainland will make [it] a goldmine of contract employees. Hence, contracting will be the number one recruitment tool and hiring strategy.'
A recent survey by Robert Half shows that one in five or 20 per cent of local finance and accounting hiring managers are hiring, or considering hiring, contract or temporary staff to address their skills shortages.
Kelly Services Hong Kong, which outsources workers mainly for information technology positions, recorded a 62 per cent jump in contracting this year versus last year, with growth in banking and finance, government and utilities.
Market players say contract and temp staff are useful during periods of excessive work, such as the end of the financial year or during special projects.
'Contingent hiring allows companies to acquire talent to reach business goals without committing to long-term headcount,' says Lancy Chui, managing director of ManpowerGroup for Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam. 'It's a solution that helps organisations scale back quickly and easily.'
In the West, contingent staffing is a mature industry, often rewarding employees with higher remuneration than permanent staffing, so many opt to build careers on contingent work.
