Hays, the global leader in specialist recruitment and workforce solutions, has released its 2026 Hays Asia Salary Guide, uncovering a clear trend across the region – professionals are increasingly turning to job moves to achieve meaningful salary growth.
Drawing on responses from more than 13,000 professionals across Asia, the Salary Guide highlights three major trends when it comes to salary-related motivations: rising dissatisfaction with pay, the growing influence of the ‘mover’s premium’ on salary growth, and the increasing importance of a well-rounded Employer Value Proposition that extends beyond compensation.
Key findings for salaries
- Dissatisfaction with current pay is rising
- 38 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong are dissatisfied with their current salary, slightly below the Asia average of 44 per cent.
- This sentiment is closely tied to pay adjustments experienced by professionals:
- 42 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong did not receive a raise last year, while seven per cent experienced a reduction in salary.
- This compares to 36 per cent of professionals in Asia who did not receive a raise last year, with six per cent experienced a reduction in salary
- Looking ahead, the outlook is no more encouraging:
- 25 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong do not expect a raise in 2026, with two per cent expecting a reduction in salary.
- This compares to 40 per cent of professionals in Asia who expect not to receive a raise in 2026, while 5 per cent expect further reductions.
- As professionals internalise this gap between what they expect and what their employers deliver, many are reconsidering their next move.
- The mover’s premium is real, and professionals know it
- Stagnant wage growth is already feeding into mobility decisions: 59 per cent of professionals in Hong Kong who increased their salaries by over ten per cent in 2025 achieved this by changing employers, the highest percentage in Asia.
- This compares to 48 per cent of professionals in Asia who increased their salaries by over ten per cent last year by changing employers.
- Even so, job mobility was less pronounced in Hong Kong: 41 per cent of professionals locally plan a career change in 2026.
- This compares to 50 per cent of professionals in Asia planning a career change.
- In Hong Kong, primary motivators for leaving were a lack of career opportunity (44 per cent), higher salaries (41 per cent) and job security concerns (26 per cent).
While many professionals are pursuing higher salaries through job changes, employers can counter this by strengthening their value propositions, clarifying development pathways and addressing the broader factors shaping today’s career choices.
“Hong Kong’s labour market has always been dynamic, but this year’s findings show a noticeable shift in how professionals are approaching their careers,” says Adrian Lam, Regional Director of Hays Hong Kong SAR. “With nearly six in ten professionals who secured a salary increase of over 10 per cent doing so by changing employers, mobility has become one of the most effective levers for financial progression. Many professionals are responding to stagnant wage growth by reassessing what their careers can offer them today in terms of long‑term stability.”
“At the same time, local professionals are signalling that their priorities are evolving. Beyond pay, concerns about limited career opportunities, job security, and managerial support are shaping how people judge the value of staying with their current employer. When these expectations are not met, the motivation to move becomes even stronger.”
Lam says that for employers, this is a pivotal moment to strengthen their Employee Value Proposition. Competitive salaries are important, but they must be supported by clear development pathways, visible internal mobility options, and a workplace environment that genuinely supports career progression. “Organisations that can demonstrate this will not only retain key talent, but also give professionals the confidence to build their future with them amid shifting expectations,” he says.
