What Hong Kong employees look for in a company

A pipping salary is not their top priority.

According to the according to the 2013 Randstad Award survey, Hong Kong employees (65%) most often select long-term job security as a top 5 most important factor when choosing to work for a specific company, pipping salary (63%), pleasant working environment (53%), good work-life balance (45%) and career progression opportunities (44%).

The Randstad Award survey covers 4,000 respondents of working age and measures the employer attractiveness of the 75 largest employers (by workforce size) in Hong Kong. The survey is unique in the market, as it allows top employers to benchmark themselves against competitors.

"Interestingly, Hong Kong was the only place in Asia where employees most frequently put long-term job security ahead of salary as the prime reason for joining a particular company,” said Brien Keegan, Director, Randstad Hong Kong.

“Employers need to take heed of this when looking to recruit, as the commonly held belief that employees, in Hong Kong at least, are just interested in money has proven untrue."

Interestingly, over two fifths of Hong Kong employees (42%) were also more likely to choose to work for an employer if they were conveniently located, above and beyond financial health (40%), interesting job content (31%), or good training (25%).

"The Randstad Award survey has produced some startling and unique characteristics about the Hong Kong talent market that have a potentially far-reaching impact on how employers build their employer brand to hire and retain talented individuals in the future," added Keegan.

The survey also revealed some telling gender differences in what men and women seek when working for a specific company. Men often prefer companies that offer career opportunities, quality product/services, good training and strong management.

While women search more job security, accessibility and pleasant working atmosphere.