Will your skills be in demand in 2015?

Commercial Banking Credit Approvers, Bancassurance specialists, and Construction Lawyers are just three of the professionals in high demand in 2015 as Hong Kong's employers continue to recruit and candidates look for new career opportunities.

In our latest Hays Quarterly Report for January to March 2015, we explore the hiring trends that are creating staffing demand in Hong Kong right now. So is there demand for your skills?

The banking and IT industries are currently experiencing healthy jobs gr,owth. In the banking sector experienced Corporate Relationship Managers are in demand, especially those who can immediately impact revenue growth by introducing new clients. Local Corporate and China Corporate Relationship Managers are in the highest demand due to increasing cross-border trade.

Technical and business-focused Project Managers are in strong demand in specific areas such as Front Office Trading because investment banks and asset management firms are looking to fully utilise their trading systems to give them a competitive edge. This is especially the case now that the Hong Kong-Shanghai stock connect scheme has opened for business.

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

In accountancy & finance we have seen a significant increase in demand for Contract Accountants as companies looked to meet regulatory reporting standards in time for the fiscal year end. Finance Managers and Financial Planning & Analysis professionals are also in demand in financial services, while Senior Accountants and Finance Managers are in demand in commerce & industry.

In construction Structural Engineers are still in high demand, specifically chartered Engineers with strong analytical design experience in complex structural designs. Civil Engineers are sought as ongoing civil infrastructure projects such as the Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok Bridge and Subsea Tunnel are well underway.

Also, there are a large number of Hong Kong contractors with work in the Macau gaming, leisure, and hospitality industry who are looking for Fit-Out Project Managers willing to relocate to deliver large-scale projects.

In the human resources sector we are currently seeing a need for HR Managers with a stable track record as organisations prefer candidates with proven reliability. Also, we are seeing an increase in demand for HR Business Partners as these professionals are now more commonly accepted in the commercial sector.

In the insurance sector Bancassurance specialists are sought as major players with established Bancassurance distribution partnerships are looking to maximise revenue generation. Many insurance companies continue to demonstrate strong growth in Asia, and as a result financial forecasting is one of the key areas within the finance function.

Financial Planning & Analysis candidates are needed to work effectively with other parties to compile reports and provide in-depth commentary to seniors at the group level.  

Increased scrutiny over business practices, particularly in China, and a greater US/UK focus on investigations has increased demand for Lawyers with regulatory and investigations skills within the financial services sector. The outlook is also favourable for Construction Lawyers as a result of the Government's focus on infrastructure and residential construction.

Within the property sector the increase in residential projects driven by pressure on the Hong Kong government to provide sufficient housing to Hong Kong residents has sparked the need for Project Managers for property developers. There has also been an increase in demand for Quantity Surveyors and Retail/Leasing property Managers.

Meanwhile, Executive Assistants and Team Administrators are needed in the office professionals market as many multinational corporations are now expanding and developing new teams in Hong Kong.

Finally, within sales and marketing we are seeing high demand for Communications Managers with regional exposure within insurance and financial services. Employers prefer bilingual candidates with internal or external communications experience and solid writing skills in both English and Chinese.

Other candidates in demand include Content Marketing Managers, Brand Managers, and Store Managers.