Banking, professional services employers cautious as Hong Kong outlook remains uncertain, recruiting firm says
- Expected salary increases for banking, professional services employees changing jobs have declined to between 10 per cent and 15 per cent for 2020, according to recruiting firm Robert Walters
- Hiring processes are expected to lengthen, with additional interview stages, firm says
Employers and prospective hires in financial, legal and other professional roles are being more conservative in Hong Kong as the city endures one of its worst political crises, marked by five months of anti-government protests, according to a report by recruiting firm Robert Walters.
When changing jobs, the expected salary increase has declined to between 10 per cent and 15 per cent for next year in Hong Kong, according to the Robert Walters Salary Survey 2020. In 2019, salaries were expected to increase by 10 per cent to 20 per cent.
“Employers will be adopting a cautious approach to recruitment, and insist on candidates with specific, niche skill sets,” said Ricky Mui, managing director of Robert Walters in Hong Kong. “Hiring processes are expected to be lengthened and additional interview stages added, with more rigorous due diligence on candidates.”
The survey comes as the protests and civil unrest weigh on a variety of businesses, having sent the city’s economy into a technical recession in the third quarter.
The protests began in June over a controversial extradition bill that would have made it easier to send criminal suspects to China for trial. The bill has been formally withdrawn, but the protests have grown into a broader unrest about affordable housing, income inequality and Beijing’s influence over the city.
Intensifying clashes between police and more radical protesters have forced retailers and restaurants to close early, and have discouraged tourists – particularly those from mainland China – from visiting the city.
At the same time, big banks have been tightening their belts as they prepare for an uncertain economic environment and look to improve their profitability.
Robert Walters said the job market for professionals in the city was showing signs of becoming more risk adverse in light of the uncertainty over the global economy and a weakened outlook for Hong Kong.
Within the financial services industry, there has been a slowdown in hiring for trading and equity-related positions, but recruitment has remained active for private banking and wealth management roles, the recruiter said.
Robert Walters said there was a new arms race to acquire top talent in the financial technology and virtual banking spaces.
Hong Kong awarded its first virtual banking licences this year, with most of the new competitors expected to offer their products by early next year.
Among fintech professionals surveyed, 88 per cent were optimistic about job opportunities next year, Robert Walters said.
“The sought-after talent ranged from business chiefs to operational professionals, covering finance, risk, legal and compliance and system developers,” according to the report.
Among financial professionals staying in their current roles, 39 per cent expected a salary increase of 7 per cent to 10 per cent next year, while 35 per cent expected a bonus of 11 per cent to 20 per cent of their annual salary.
