The first half of 2025 marks a pivotal chapter in Hong Kong SAR’s evolving talent landscape. Amid economic recalibration, geopolitical tension, and accelerated digital transformation, hiring strategies have continued to shift—revealing changing priorities across sectors in both candidate expectations and organizational needs. This Mid-Year Talent Pulse Report by KOS International offers a cross-sectoral view of workforce dynamics across 13 sectors.

• Financial Services: Front-office hiring remained steady in retail and private banking, while corporate banking was more cautious. Meanwhile, mid–back office functions such as compliance, internal audit, and finance saw hiring primarily driven by succession planning and restructuring, especially at the senior level.
• Accounting and Finance: Polarized market with intense competition for active jobseekers and passive talent preferring stability.
• Legal and Company Secretarial: Legal hiring was cautious, with selective senior roles in commercial sectors and growing demand for junior to mid-level compliance talent in financial services.
• Human Resources and Business Support: Human resources hiring remained focused on mid-level roles, while business support recruitment was largely driven by replacements and succession planning.
• Technology and Digital Transformation: High demand for AI, cybersecurity, and cloud expertise; many companies turning to contract hiring as a flexible solution amid tighter budgets.
• Retail and Luxury: Focuses on trilingual, tech-savvy talent to drive omnichannel experiences.
• Supply Chain and Procurement: Emphasis on ESG, compliance, and digital integration.
• B2B and Industrial: Driven by R&D and innovation, boosting demand for talent in AI, green tech, and specialized sales and marketing.
• Property and Construction: Selective hiring driven by infrastructure and sustainability needs.
• Healthcare and Life Sciences: Growing demand for skilled talent amid industry shifts.
• Food & Beverage, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism: Gained momentum from tourism recovery.
• FMCG: Faces shortages as demand grows for sales and digital expertise.
• Charities and Non-Profit Organizations: Adapting through recruitment strategies development, funding diversification, and skilled volunteer engagement.

As Asia’s first locally listed recruitment group, KOS remains committed to supporting your workforce planning and business success into the second half of 2025 and beyond.