Insurance job applications jump 36% as hiring tightens

Salary gap and digital demand slowed recruitment.

Job applications in Hong Kong’s insurance sector rose 36% year on year (YoY), making it one of the most active hiring markets in 2026, even as employers face growing difficulty converting demand into hires, according to the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey 2026.

Insurance job vacancies increased 3% YoY in 2025, with insurers stepping up recruitment in digital transformation, compliance, risk and governance, and operations roles, the survey showed.

The hiring surge comes as 76% of insurance professionals said they feel confident about their job prospects, whilst the Hong Kong Insurance Authority reported total gross premiums of $423.4b in the first half of 2025.

Demand is strongest for digital specialists, with roles such as Digital Product Owners seeing salary increments of up to 16% for job movers, and professionals with six to 10 years’ experience commanding annual packages of $750,000 to $1.4m.

The survey highlighted a widening salary expectation gap, with 84% of professionals seeking pay increases above 10% to consider a move, whilst 66% of employers plan to offer 10% or less, prolonging hiring cycles and constraining employers’ ability to secure talent.

“We’re seeing more movement among senior digital talent who entered the market during the 2021 to 2022 hiring boom,” said Vivian Tsang, associate director at Robert Walters. “As mobility increases, it naturally opens up even more opportunities in the market.”