Employers lose talent on uncompetitive pay offers: report

Nearly half (47%) of professionals say they plan to look for new opportunities in the next six months.

As competition for skilled professionals intensifies, 63% of Hong Kong employers report losing out on talent due to uncompetitive salary and benefits packages, according to new findings from Morgan McKinley’s 2025 Salary Guide.

The report painted a picture of a job market under pressure. Nearly half (47%) of professionals say they plan to look for new opportunities in the next six months, whilst just 38% of hiring managers intend to recruit in that same period.

With 88% of organisations describing the hiring landscape as “very” or “quite” competitive, employers are clearly struggling to keep up.

Salaries and benefits are a flashpoint. A majority of professionals (67%) say they are either neutral, dissatisfied, or highly dissatisfied with their current packages.

At the same time, job security is fragile — 58% of employees feel insecure or indifferent about their future at work.

Adding to the disconnect, 26% of companies increased in-office attendance expectations last year, despite widespread calls for flexible work. The result: a misalignment that may be pushing talent out the door.

Still, there are signs employers are beginning to adjust. 58% plan to increase salaries for hard-to-fill roles in 2025. Yet only 52% of professionals expect a raise, suggesting confidence remains muted.