The growth of mainland China companies investing and expanding into Hong Kong is driving growth for qualified technology candidates in the city-state according to the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide. Statistics compiled by the Hong Kong government show the numbers of local offices of mainland China companies based in Hong Kong has grown from 678 in 2014 to 1,139 in 2018, representing a growth rate of 68 per cent over five years. This has, to some extent further precipitated the skills shortage within Hong Kong’s IT sector.
Robert Half research has found that over three-quarters (77 per cent) of Hong Kong CIOs currently find it challenging to source qualified IT professionals, with the number rising to 85 per cent for those who predict it will become even more challenging in the coming five years.
Adam Johnston, managing director of Robert Half Hong Kong says: “Hong Kong’s Smart City initiatives – aimed at building a better-connected and efficient city driven by the latest technology – are driving strong demand for local IT talent. IT recruitment is also being driven by the growth of mainland China companies expanding into Hong Kong, particularly within the areas of major investment banks, hedge funds and blockchain companies, who are looking for skilled talent to boost their digital transformation efforts and IT infrastructure. The supply/demand imbalance within the technology talent pool, however, is causing increased pressure on employers within these areas to source qualified professionals.
“Hong Kong’s ambition to position itself as a globally recognised innovation hub is creating strong demand for technology professionals who can implement and upgrade a company’s consumer-facing technology,” he continues. “In particular, developers with backgrounds in Java, C#, C++ and React are highly sought-after in today’s market and are in a favourable position to negotiate starting salaries.”
Robert Half has identified the top three financial positions in demand in Hong Kong for 2019 and matched them with the job titles and their respective salaries as published in the 2019 Robert Half Salary Guide:
- Lead Software Developer
| Salary Range | ||||
| Percentiles | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th |
| $600,000 | $825,000 | $1,050,000 | $1,300,000 | |
Source: Robert Half Salary Guide
- Software Development Manager
| Salary Range | ||||
| Percentiles | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th |
| $720,000 | $900,000 | $1,080,000 | $1,200,000 | |
Source: Robert Half Salary Guide
- Full-stack Software Developer
| Salary Range | ||||
| Percentiles | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th |
| $300,000 | $420,000 | $750,000 | $1,300,000 | |
