Hays reveals the top ten in-demand jobs for China
Organisations in China expect to increase headcount in 2025 as employers look to fill critical skill gaps ahead of a challenging economic climate.
According to the upcoming 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide, 60 per cent of organisations in China faced moderate to extreme skill shortages in 2024. 45 per cent of hiring managers surveyed attributed these shortages to tough competition from other employers.
“Although China has experienced high talent supply compared to role availability due to the economic downturn these last few years, this is not the case for candidates with in-demand skills critical to business success,” says Sue Wei, Managing Director at Hays Greater China. “Organisations looking to fill intermediate and senior roles will likely face fierce competition for talent, putting qualified candidates in a position to negotiate for their preferred terms.”
Ahead of the Salary Guide’s release in February, Hays has compiled a list of ten jobs for China that are seeing high demand from businesses. These jobs are listed as follows:
1. R&D/Engineering Manager
Smart manufacturing sectors in China such as new energy vehicles, semiconductors, and lithium batteries are booming, buoyed by strong government policies and subsidies promoting innovation and development in the area. Demand for advanced technologies has continued to increase worldwide, driven by the need for sustainable energy solutions and the ever-present consumer demand for high-performance electronic devices.
2. Finance Business Partner Manager/Director
High-end financial talent is particularly sought after in China's evolving manufacturing, life sciences, and consumer industries. Professionals with international perspectives, expertise in IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and cost control are in high demand, especially those with proficiency in English and other foreign languages.
3. Full Stack Engineer
China's tech industry has maintained moderate growth compared to the previous year. However, we are seeing strong growth in the AI, Robotics, and Intelligent Hardware sectors, all of which require tech developers to work hand-in-hand with engineering teams to contribute their knowledge of software capabilities and limitations to help realise project plans.
4. Human Resources Business Partner/Director
As organisations gear up for a productive year, there is a need to fill critical skill gaps essential for companies to reach their full potential. 60% of organisations in China faced skill shortages in 2024, highlighting the need for strategic human resource management.
5. Private Banking/Wealth Management Relationship Manager
Despite foreign banks and securities firms downsizing in China, demand for wealth management and private banking talents remains strong. Senior level professionals with ultra-high-net-worth client resources and comprehensive product knowledge are especially valuable, and employers are willing to offer higher base salaries, improved pay structures, and additional benefits to attract top candidates today.
6. Compliance Business Partner Manager/Director
As more companies look to get listed in the country, demand for compliance talent has increased, especially for professionals with expertise in the local regulatory environment who ensure organisations meet all requirements while maintaining high standards of corporate governance.
7. Marketing Manager/Director
Demand for marketing talent is particularly healthy in health and wellness, where organisations continue to hire for growth in 2025. This field is seeing increasing hyper-personalisation as AI and machine learning provides consumer data to organisations at a greater scale, and organisations are on the lookout for professionals capable of filling these critical gaps that enable them to stand out among competitors.
8. Business Development Manager
Working hand-in-hand with marketing teams are business development executives responsible for implementing new strategies to help organisations achieve their development goals in China’s evolving landscape. Business Development Managers contribute to this by identifying and pursuing new business opportunities to drive growth and increase revenue.
9. Category Manager
Supply chains are growing more complex on the back of geopolitical tensions, requiring alternatives to traditional routes. Procurement talent are especially valuable assets to organisations looking to navigate these complexities, ensuring the efficient acquisition of goods and services, optimising costs, and maintaining supplier relationships.
10. AI Engineer
Many industries are undergoing digital transformation, requiring more tech professionals to support these changes. Beyond the usual software development and algorithm positions, major internet companies are now investing in chip-level roles to enhance their AI applications, highlighting the growing importance of hardware optimisation in AI development here in China.
"With 42 per cent of organisations in China planning to expand their workforce this year, the demand for top talent is clearly increasing. As competition grows, it's crucial for leaders to revisit their attraction strategies and ensure their Employee Value Propositions align with the expectations of today's candidates to stay ahead," says Sue.
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According to the upcoming 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide, 60 per cent of organisations in China faced moderate to extreme skill shortages in 2024. 45 per cent of hiring managers surveyed attributed these shortages to tough competition from other employers.
“Although China has experienced high talent supply compared to role availability due to the economic downturn these last few years, this is not the case for candidates with in-demand skills critical to business success,” says Sue Wei, Managing Director at Hays Greater China. “Organisations looking to fill intermediate and senior roles will likely face fierce competition for talent, putting qualified candidates in a position to negotiate for their preferred terms.”
Ahead of the Salary Guide’s release in February, Hays has compiled a list of ten jobs for China that are seeing high demand from businesses. These jobs are listed as follows:
1. R&D/Engineering Manager
Smart manufacturing sectors in China such as new energy vehicles, semiconductors, and lithium batteries are booming, buoyed by strong government policies and subsidies promoting innovation and development in the area. Demand for advanced technologies has continued to increase worldwide, driven by the need for sustainable energy solutions and the ever-present consumer demand for high-performance electronic devices.
2. Finance Business Partner Manager/Director
High-end financial talent is particularly sought after in China's evolving manufacturing, life sciences, and consumer industries. Professionals with international perspectives, expertise in IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and cost control are in high demand, especially those with proficiency in English and other foreign languages.
3. Full Stack Engineer
China's tech industry has maintained moderate growth compared to the previous year. However, we are seeing strong growth in the AI, Robotics, and Intelligent Hardware sectors, all of which require tech developers to work hand-in-hand with engineering teams to contribute their knowledge of software capabilities and limitations to help realise project plans.
4. Human Resources Business Partner/Director
As organisations gear up for a productive year, there is a need to fill critical skill gaps essential for companies to reach their full potential. 60% of organisations in China faced skill shortages in 2024, highlighting the need for strategic human resource management.
5. Private Banking/Wealth Management Relationship Manager
Despite foreign banks and securities firms downsizing in China, demand for wealth management and private banking talents remains strong. Senior level professionals with ultra-high-net-worth client resources and comprehensive product knowledge are especially valuable, and employers are willing to offer higher base salaries, improved pay structures, and additional benefits to attract top candidates today.
6. Compliance Business Partner Manager/Director
As more companies look to get listed in the country, demand for compliance talent has increased, especially for professionals with expertise in the local regulatory environment who ensure organisations meet all requirements while maintaining high standards of corporate governance.
7. Marketing Manager/Director
Demand for marketing talent is particularly healthy in health and wellness, where organisations continue to hire for growth in 2025. This field is seeing increasing hyper-personalisation as AI and machine learning provides consumer data to organisations at a greater scale, and organisations are on the lookout for professionals capable of filling these critical gaps that enable them to stand out among competitors.
8. Business Development Manager
Working hand-in-hand with marketing teams are business development executives responsible for implementing new strategies to help organisations achieve their development goals in China’s evolving landscape. Business Development Managers contribute to this by identifying and pursuing new business opportunities to drive growth and increase revenue.
9. Category Manager
Supply chains are growing more complex on the back of geopolitical tensions, requiring alternatives to traditional routes. Procurement talent are especially valuable assets to organisations looking to navigate these complexities, ensuring the efficient acquisition of goods and services, optimising costs, and maintaining supplier relationships.
10. AI Engineer
Many industries are undergoing digital transformation, requiring more tech professionals to support these changes. Beyond the usual software development and algorithm positions, major internet companies are now investing in chip-level roles to enhance their AI applications, highlighting the growing importance of hardware optimisation in AI development here in China.
"With 42 per cent of organisations in China planning to expand their workforce this year, the demand for top talent is clearly increasing. As competition grows, it's crucial for leaders to revisit their attraction strategies and ensure their Employee Value Propositions align with the expectations of today's candidates to stay ahead," says Sue.
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About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in workforce solutions and recruitment, such as RPO and MSP. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 30 June 2024, the Group employed over 11,100 staff operating from 236 offices in 33 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2024:
– the Group reported net fees of £1,113.6 million and operating profit of £105.1 million.
– the Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles.
– 13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW).
– the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees.
– Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (11%), are the next largest.
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK, and the USA.
– the Group placed around 57,700 candidates into permanent jobs and around 225,000 people into temporary roles.
– 13% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 32% in Germany, 20% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 35% in Rest of World (RoW).
– the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees.
– Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (11%), are the next largest.
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, the UK, and the USA.
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