Hong Kong candidates looking for work are less likely to consider job roles overseas than candidates in some other key Asian countries/regions, according to new research from recruitment experts Hays.
A web poll, carried out in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia asked, ‘Are you currently looking at job opportunities overseas?’ Only candidates in Malaysia were less likely to look further afield than their home market than those in Hong Kong.
Singapore leads the way with 86 per cent of survey participants confirming they were currently looking at overseas opportunities at the time of responding to our web poll. Respondents in Mainland China were close behind with 85 per cent and respondents in Japan are also keener to make an overseas move than those in Hong Kong with 76 per cent actively looking for a job outside the nation.
All these results narrowly contrasted with Hong Kong where only 74 per cent of respondents were looking for work overseas at the time of our poll. Another six per cent said they were confining their job search just to Hong Kong while 20 per cent would be open to an opportunity overseas if told about a suitable role. In Malaysia 68 per cent of job hunters were casting their net internationally at the time of the survey.
“The results are a double edged sword – on the one hand Hong Kong professionals appear more interested in carving out their career at home, which is good news for employers,” said Dean Stallard, managing director of Hays Greater Bay Area. “Hong Kong is a truly international territory and a great place to make your mark no matter where you are from.
“However, for ambitious professionals on the move, the goal should be career progres-sion and that can mean considering a move internationally if it means securely a role that offers significant career progression,” said Dean. “The recruitment market in Asia today is a lot more fluid and international in flavour with greater movement of top talent between key cities.”
“By adding the international job market to the mix, career savvy candidates in Hong Kong actively looking for a role can also better evaluate locally based jobs in terms of the experience, salary and benefits an employer is offering,” he concluded.
