3 in 5 organisations in China experienced ‘moderate to extreme’ skill shortages according to Hays Asia Salary Guide

 

The survey conducted by Hays across six locations including China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand in late 2024 gathered insights from 3,670 hiring managers regarding skill shortages they faced within their organisations. Respondents were also queried about reasons related to skill shortages, positions that were difficult to fill and anticipated changes in headcount in 2025.

 

 

62 per cent of hiring managers admitted to encountering ‘moderate to extreme’ skill shortages in 2024, with an additional 26 per cent facing minor skill shortages. When asked about the main causes of these shortages, 47 per cent attributed it to ‘competition from other employers’. Additionally, 33 per cent considered ‘pay levels’ to be the main contributing factor, while 27 per cent cited a ‘lack of progression opportunities’.

 

When examining the types of positions organisations were struggling to fill, intermediate-level roles were particularly challenging (55 per cent), followed by management positions (37 per cent), entry/junior-level roles (20 per cent), C-Suite positions (13 per cent), and director roles (12 per cent). In response to these findings, 33 per cent of hiring managers indicated that ‘employee retention’ was a key HR investment focus for 2024 and 2025, while 27 per cent were focused on ‘employee recruitment’.

 

 

While competition from other employers was identified as the chief concern (45 per cent) contributing to skill shortages in China, 30 per cent of hiring managers also attributed the talent deficits within their organisation to a ‘lack of training and professional development available’. Additionally, 19 per cent cited the cost of qualifications and/or training as a contributing factor.

 

"One in five organisations in China are planning to invest in employee training programs to ensure their talent can perform at the desired level," said Sue Wei, Managing Director at Hays Greater China. "This initiative aligns with expectations that companies should provide opportunities for professionals to acquire new, highly sought-after skills, giving them a competitive edge in the workplace."

 

29 per cent of working professionals in China consider the opportunity to learn new skills to be an important Employee Value Proposition. Additionally, professionals and employers in China are closely aligned on the skills that benefit organisations the most and aid career progression.

 

“Communication and interpersonal skills are the most sought-after attributes among professionals and employers alike in China. While professionals also want to refine their ability to learn and upskill, employers prioritise those who can adapt to change in today's dynamic and fast-evolving business environment,” said Sue.

 

 

85 per cent of hiring managers in China have faced difficulty in hiring for specific positions within their organisations. Intermediate-level roles were the hardest to fill (47 per cent), followed by management level (34 per cent), C-Suite positions (19 per cent), entry/junior-level roles (15 per cent), and director positions (15 per cent). However, organisations in China are taking a unique approach towards strengthening talent pipelines compared to other locations in Asia.

 

“While one in four organisations in China see employee recruitment as a key HR investment focus this year, only one in five prioritise employee retention, indicating a preference for acquiring new talent over retaining existing employees. With 44 per cent of working professionals intending to switch jobs this year, leaders may wish to revisit their talent strategies to address potential talent drain and ensure workforce stability in 2025,” said Sue.

 

A copy of the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide is available here.

 

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Contact

For more information contact:
Bill.wang@hays.cn 

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.