Flexible work could help Hong Kong firms integrate incoming talent: IWG

Q4 hiring outlook climbed to 14%, according to ManpowerGroup.

Flexible and hybrid work could help Hong Kong businesses access a wider talent pool and integrate workers arriving through initiatives such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme, International Workplace Group (IWG) said.

Citing Randstad's 2026 Employer Brand Research, the group said work-life balance is a top priority for 56% of Hong Kong talent, with flexible work arrangements playing a key role in attracting and retaining employees.

This comes as Hong Kong's hiring outlook improved to 14% in the fourth quarter, up 23 percentage points from the previous quarter, according to ManpowerGroup. 

Of the 603 employers surveyed, 30% planned to increase staffing, whilst 16% expected to reduce their workforce.

Locally, 77% of employees also said artificial intelligence (AI) makes them more productive at work, according to Randstad's 2026 Workmonitor.

IWG said combining flexible working arrangements with AI skills development initiatives, including the government's Upskill Hong Kong campaign, could help local employers improve efficiency and build a more resilient workforce.

Meanwhile, new economic modelling by IWG and Arup suggests that flexible working could unlock billions of dollars in productivity gains through stronger employee retention, talent attraction, and knowledge continuity.

Employee retention emerged as the largest single driver of potential productivity gains, worth approximately $1.6t (US$204.7b) in the US and$112.2b (£10.8b) in the UK over five years.

Reducing staff turnover could help businesses avoid up to$320.9b (US$40.9b) and $22.9b (£2.2b) in annual lost gross value added (GVA) in the US and UK, respectively.

IWG's research also found that 81% of chief human resources officers consider hybrid working critical to retaining talent, whilst 86% identified flexible working as the most in-demand benefit amongst prospective employees.

Meanwhile, 78% of business leaders believe companies offering hybrid or flexible working have a competitive advantage.

 Hybrid working was also identified as a leading strategy for attracting tech talent by 37% of respondents, ahead of competitive pay at 35%.

AI could further amplify these benefits, with 80% of CEOs saying the technology boosts employee productivity when combined with hybrid working, the report added.