Firms grapple with workforce demands and talent gaps: report

C-suites and HR professionals struggle with hiring the right talent.

In Hong Kong, 76% of C-suites retain a more optimistic view of increasing or maintaining headcount in 2025, KPMG reported.

However, 97% of C-level and HR professionals experienced challenges in hiring the right talent, with 53% finding these challenges unmanageable.

Meanwhile, 51% of C-level and HR professionals hired talent from the Chinese Mainland in 2025 whilst 28% hired from overseas markets.

The report also found that stability is the top non-monetary factor considered by 39% of professionals when choosing a new employer, up from 31% in 2024.

In addition, KPMG revealed that more than half of Hong Kong respondents reported that their organisations have adopted Gen AI in the past 12 months.

"Evolving business needs, shifting workforce demographics, and technological advancements will drive Hong Kong's employment market. Organisations will need to strike a balance between the optimisation of their operations and the evolving expectations of the workforce for long-term success,” David Siew, head of People Services and Tax at KPMG China said. 

KPMG surveyed 425 business executives and professionals on employment trends and career opportunities in Hong Kong and the wider Greater Bay Area (GBA) between 2 and 14 January 2025.