These are the skills in demand right now in Hong Kong

Now that the slowdown in recruitment over the Chinese New Year period is over, the rate of hiring in Hong Kong has returned to the same healthy levels seen before the holiday.

In our Hays Quarterly Report for April to June 2015, we explore the hiring trends that are creating staffing demand in Hong Kong right now. So as the job market picks up, are your skills in demand?

In accountancy & finance we have seen a significant increase in demand for Internal Auditors within the banking industry. This has caused employers to extend their search globally to expatriates living in the UK in an attempt to entice them back to Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Fund Accountants and Trilingual Finance Managers with Mandarin, Cantonese, and English language skills are in demand at private equity asset management companies.

The banking and IT industries continue to experience strong jobs growth. In the banking sector experienced Relationship Managers are needed in corporate, private, and retail banking. People in these frontline revenue-generating roles are required to capture new clients and increase the banks’ market share.

AML/KYC Compliance Managers, Investment Bank Credit Risk Analysts, and Trade Support and Settlement Managers are also sought after.

Hong Kong’s information technology market remains very active, with both large employers and the government sector continuing to generate new jobs. We’re seeing a high need for Data Analysts as corporations are becoming more data-driven and need to analyse and predict future insights into their business operations.

Project Specialists and Coordinators are in demand across the IT sector as companies continue to improve and enhance their systems. Project Managers of mobile technology are also needed.

Strong demand also exists in many other sectors such as construction, HR, legal, insurance, property, office professionals, and sales & marketing.

In construction recruitment activity remains high due to the recent awarding of contracts for the latter sections of the Shatin to Central Link. This has created particularly strong demand for candidates who have tunnelling and rail experience. Structural Engineers, Civil Engineers, and Fit-Out Project Managers continue to be in demand.

In the human resources sector we are seeing demand for Compensation & Benefits experts and HR Business Partners following Chinese New Year and the awarding of bonuses.

Meanwhile in the insurance sector Business Development Managers, Compliance specialists, and Distribution professionals are among those in demand. There is a particularly strong interest in candidates with solid sales management experience in an agency or bancassurance background.

Due to the crackdown on corruption by the new PRC government and its drive to internationalise the Chinese market, Regulatory Lawyers and Company Secretaries are sought after in the legal sector.

Capital Markets Lawyers at various levels are also sought in private practice due to strengthening IPO deal flow at some firms.

Within the property sector the Government’s drive to deliver more residential units for Hong Kong citizens is keeping developers focused on the high-end residential market. This has created demand for Architecture Project Managers who can help plan, design, and deliver an entire project.

Clerk Of Works, Quantity Surveyor, and Facility Managers are also in high demand.

Meanwhile, Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants are needed in the office professionals market to support senior managers at the many multinational corporations that are based in Hong Kong.

Finally, within sales and marketing we are seeing high demand for Product Marketing Managers from insurance companies and retail banks. Candidates with specific product knowledge are needed to promote products through different distribution channels.

We’re also seeing a need for Managers in Trade Marketing, e-Commerce, and Customer Relationship Management.