Fresh Hong Kong graduates earn a lot less working in Greater Bay Area, study finds – but there are benefits to take into account, researchers say
- While the average starting salary for graduates is about HK$14,800 in Hong Kong, similar jobs pay a little over a third of that across the border
- Bosses in Guangdong province are more generous in paying bonuses than their Hong Kong counterparts
Fresh Hong Kong university graduates who work in mainland Chinese cities in the Greater Bay Area can expect to get paid a little over a third of what they will make locally, a study has found.
In sectors such as engineering, graduates’ average starting pay was HK$17,010 in Hong Kong, compared with 5,265 yuan (HK$5,835) in Guangdong province cities.
However, researchers said local graduates should also take into account upwards pay trends across the border when considering working in Guangdong and other benefits.
The survey, jointly conducted by Baptist University, Hong Kong People Management Association and Guangzhou’s South China University of Technology, looked into pay trends and fringe benefits offered by companies in Hong Kong and the cities covered by the bay area, a Chinese government national development strategy.