Hong Kong employers expect a mixed hiring picture in the third quarter of 2025, according to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, released on Tuesday.  

More than one third of the 522 Hong Kong employers surveyed anticipate headcount increases, while 25 percent expect decreases and 41 percent foresee no changes, the report says.

According to the survey, Hong Kong employers expect an 8 percent net employment outlook (NEO) for the third quarter of 2025, manifesting guarded optimism in the Hong Kong job market. While remaining positive, the figure represents a 3 percent decline from the previous quarter, leading to a more conservative hiring pace in some sectors in the upcoming quarter.

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Lancy Chui, senior vice-president of ManpowerGroup Greater China, said that most sectors in Hong Kong report positive NEOs. The healthcare and life sciences sector has a particularly good NEO of 31 percent, driven by an aging population and increased demand for medical services.    

Hong Kong’s financial sector also shows strong hiring prospects, according to Chui. “In 2025, Hong Kong's financial sector demonstrated outstanding growth, with new stock capital raising surpassing HK$60 billion ($7.6 billion), marking a more than six-fold increase on the same period last year, securing its position as the world's top fundraising hub,” she said.

The information technology sector is expected to reach an NEO of 21 percent, bolstered by digital transformation and a rising need for cybersecurity professionals, the survey reported. The industrial and materials sectors register an NEO of 17 percent, benefiting from government policies and funding programs that encourage innovation and smart manufacturing.

In contrast, the consumer goods and services sector anticipates modest NEO growth of 2 percent, as businesses remain cautious amidst economic uncertainties, the survey reported. The transport, logistics, and automotive sector faces significant challenges, with a negative NEO of 26 percent, due to geopolitical tensions and declining corporate revenues.

While employers are adopting prudent hiring approaches, mainland economic growth and Hong Kong's mega event economy policies should gradually improve conditions, Chui said.

As Hong Kong's labor market navigates global uncertainties, sector-specific demand continues to shape recruitment strategies, with healthcare, finance and technology maintaining the strongest momentum while traditional sectors face greater challenges, Chui added.

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According to the latest labor force statistics released on Tuesday by the Census and Statistics Department, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.4 percent in February-April 2025 to 3.5 percent in March-May 2025. The underemployment rate also increased from 1.3 percent in February-April 2025 to 1.4 percent in March-May 2025.        

Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, Chris Sun Yuk-han, secretary for labour and welfare of the Hong Kong government, said: "The entry of fresh graduates and school leavers in the coming few months may further impact the overall employment situation.”

“That said, we are delighted to see the steady expansion of the Hong Kong economy with real gross domestic product in 2025 forecast to grow by 2 percent to 3 percent, and the injection of new impetus into the market by local and non-local operators as reflected by the number of registered local and foreign companies having reached new heights in recent months. These positive developments should render support to the labor market and sustain the momentum of Hong Kong's economic development", Sun added.                                

Contact the writer at mikegu@chinadailyhk.com