28th October 2026 – (Hong Kong) A survey by recruitment platform Jobsdb by Seek indicates that graduate hiring conditions tightened in the first three quarters of this year, with adverts aimed at fresh graduates falling by 22 per cent year on year and the share of such listings slipping from 9.5 per cent in 2023 to 5.8 per cent. Competition intensified markedly: the average applications per typical graduate role rose by 56 per cent and each graduate vacancy drew 32 per cent more applications than the Hong Kong job‑ad average. The platform said this will likely be one of the most challenging years in the past three to five for new graduates, advising students to build experience through internships or part‑time work to bridge study and workplace demands.
The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping role requirements, with some posts that previously demanded three to five years of experience now open to graduates who demonstrate relevant AI skills. Employers, the platform added, increasingly prioritise soft skills and interview performance over work history and academic credentials. About 85 per cent of Hong Kong companies signalled willingness to consider hiring fresh graduates, with large enterprises more inclined than smaller firms.
Conducted in August and September among 298 Hong Kong companies, the survey shows a cautiously optimistic outlook for next year: 73 per cent expect the labour market to be the same or more active than in 2026, 64 per cent plan to maintain or expand headcount, and 48 per cent intend to lift recruitment budgets, suggesting resilience and a gradual recovery. Pay decisions remain conservative, with 68 per cent forecasting similar salary adjustments to this year and 22 per cent anticipating larger rises, averaging an increase of 1.44 per cent. The main drivers of pay decisions were the city’s economic outlook at 44 per cent and company performance at 43 per cent.
Expected salary growth varies by function, led by information technology at 2.97 per cent, followed by corporate sales and business development at 2.75 per cent, analytics at 2.07 per cent, education at 2 per cent, and digital marketing, e‑commerce and social media at 1.81 per cent. In terms of rewards, 80 per cent of employers reported paying either bonuses or double pay over the past 12 months; 73 per cent paid bonuses and 46 per cent paid double pay. The average bonus across firms was 1.34 months, with banking and finance the most generous at 1.7 months, ahead of electronics and electrical equipment at 1.66 months and insurance at 1.6 months.