Hong Kong employers are taking a markedly more positive view of hiring for the fourth quarter, although most still expect their workforces to remain unchanged. ManpowerGroup Hong Kong said 30% of the 603 employers surveyed planned to increase staffing over the following three months, while 16% expected to reduce headcount and 54% planned no change.
The survey, published on 15 September 2026, put the seasonally adjusted employment outlook at +14%, up from -9% in the previous quarter. The figures describe employers’ stated hiring plans and expectations.
Information technology recorded an outlook of +27%, followed by financial and insurance services at +21%. A senior vice-president at ManpowerGroup’s Greater China business said employers were directing resources towards business growth, technology applications, cross-border and professional services, major developments and transformation projects.
The executive said a planned enhanced Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme was expected to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt existing artificial-intelligence and cybersecurity solutions, and to increase demand for system implementation, cloud services, IT support, cybersecurity and digital consultancy roles.
In finance and insurance, she attributed hiring demand to growth in initial public offering activity and fundraising, assets under management, asset-management and fund-advisory services, private banking, private wealth management and trust services. Faster growth in insurance premiums and new business was also expected to support recruitment and training.
The improvement was more modest elsewhere. The outlook stood at +15% for professional, scientific and technical services, +7% for manufacturing, +5% for services, and +2% for construction and real estate.
Health and social services recorded a negative outlook of -3%. The ManpowerGroup executive said a policy allowing serving healthcare workers to extend employment from age 60 to 65, together with lower staff attrition, had kept healthcare recruitment at a normal level. In social services, she said 179 subsidised non-governmental organisations faced funding cuts of between 3% and 7%, with reported hiring freezes and job losses, particularly in professional and support posts.