ESG, digital expertise drive Hong Kong’s 2025 job market: Hays
HONG KONG, CHINA — Sustainability and digital innovation reshape Hong Kong’s hiring trends for 2025.
A new report by staffing firm Hays reveals emerging opportunities in green finance, cybersecurity, and digital marketing sectors.
Sustainability takes center stage
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s push to establish the city as a green finance hub has sparked intense competition for sustainability talent. Financial institutions are rapidly integrating environmental practices into their operations, from carbon accounting to climate risk assessment.
“We have seen a significant shift in business focus across the region, driven by investor demand for sustainability,” says Sue Wei, managing director at Hays Greater China.
“This is particularly influencing the finance sector, where regulatory pressures mean that financial organizations are required to integrate green practices.”
Digital transformation drives new demands
The job market is experiencing a surge in demand for cybersecurity professionals, particularly following a 65% quarter-on-quarter increase in cybersecurity incidents during the first quarter of 2024. Industries such as healthcare, education, technology, and logistics are actively seeking experts in cloud security and network protection.
Digital marketing has emerged as another high-demand field, with organizations seeking professionals who can leverage data analytics for business growth.
“Today, marketers are increasingly expected to gather insights from vast data sources in order to drive sales growth,” Wei explains. The limited talent pool in digital marketing and e-commerce has led to highly competitive salary packages.
Challenges and opportunities in diverse sectors
Beyond finance and technology, the Hays report points to unique challenges in sectors like accounting, insurance, and retail, where strategies are evolving to attract and retain talent amidst offshoring trends and changing consumer behaviors. The retail sector, particularly luxury goods, has seen declining sales, with a 16% decrease in the first eight months of 2024.
The demand for corporate governance lawyers is on the rise, reflecting Hong Kong’s evolving status as a legal hub.
Despite some multinational corporations departing Hong Kong, the government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) has successfully brought in over 60 new companies. These enterprises, focusing on artificial intelligence, big data, life sciences, and fintech, are expected to create more than 17,000 job opportunities with investments exceeding HKD 42 billion (USD 5.4 trillion).
