EMPLOYMENTMARKET TRENDSIN SINGAPORE

Robert HalfEmployment ReportFor First Half of 2015

©2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

EMPLOYMENTMARKET TRENDSIN HONG KONG

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

©Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

ABOUT THE REPORT

This bi-annual report provides insights into the hiring plans across finance, accounting, banking and financial services, and IT for the first half of 2015.

BANKING &FINANCIAL SERVICES

COMMERCE& INDUSTRY

INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

For this report, we polled:

OPINIONS THAT MATTER

150 CFOs and finance hiring decision makers

150 senior financial services leaders

100 CIOs/CTOs

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICESEmployment Trends for

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICESHiring Projections

Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding

46%Adding

permanent positions

45%Only filling vacated

positions

1%Forecasting decreases

and reducing headcounts

9%Freezing

headcounts

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICESConfidence Levels

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

How optimistic are leaders about their companies’ business growth trajectory in Hong Kong?

An overwhelming 85% of leaders said they are confident of their companies’ growth prospects.

High degree of confidence

83% of leaders expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s

growth prospects.

Positive outlook for Hong Kong

83%

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE

85%

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Opportunities abound for banking and financial services professionals with the relevant experience this first half of the year.

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

In the first half of 2015, demand is in the favour of skilled professionals with experience in:

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICESMost Sought After Talent

Operationssupport

Accounting/Finance

Risk

Revenue-generating/Business development

Compliance

Challenged to find skilled talent

99%

Concerned aboutlosing top talent

97%

Nearly all banks and financial services companies are facing a challenge finding skilled talent.

Quality talent in short supplyAt the same time, companies are

also concerned with retaining quality talent.

Retention of key talent

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICESHiring Trends

COMMERCE & INDUSTRYEmployment Trends for

COMMERCE & INDUSTRYHiring Projections

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

53%Ramping up

permanent hiring

37%Only filling

vacated positions

1%Anticipating decreases

in recruitment

9%Not takingany action

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

CFOs and finance leaders are optimistic about Hong Kong’s economic outlook, and have confidence in their organisation’s growth prospects.

©Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

How optimistic are leaders about their companies’ business growth trajectory in Hong Kong?

Four out of five leaders surveyed express that they are confident of

business growth in their companies.

Positivity is in the air

87% of the respondents also conveyed confidence in

Hong Kong’s future growth.

The future looks bright

COMMERCE & INDUSTRYConfidence Levels

87%

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE

81%

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Demand for finance and accounting professionals is healthy across companies in all sectors, especially for those with the following skills:

COMMERCE & INDUSTRYMost Sought After Talent

AccountingBusiness/Financial analysis

Corporate Finance

Cost accounting/Costing

Financialmanagement/control

Challenged to find skilled talent

93%

Concerned aboutlosing top talent

85%

With the influx of hiring happeningin the first half of 2015, a major

challenge for companies everywhereis employing skilled talent.

Skilled talent wantedRetaining existing employees is on the minds of employers and

hiring managers too.

Keeping talent on board

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

COMMERCE & INDUSTRYHiring Trends

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYEmployment Trends for

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYHiring Projections

40%Increasing headcount

of permanent staff

41%Filling vacated

positions

2%Expect a decline

in hiring

17%Freezing

headcounts

©Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

How optimistic are leaders about their companies’ business growth trajectory in Hong Kong?

78% of CIOs surveyed are confident of business progress

in their companies.

Good news on the horizon

At the same time, 74% of CIOs express confidence

in Hong Kong's economy.

Hong Kong will thrive

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYConfidence Levels

74%

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE

78%

IT professionals are sought after across companies in all sectors. Top skills in demand include:

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYMost Sought After Talent

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicationsdevelopment

Data/Databasemanagement

SecuritySoftwaredevelopment

Networking Web development/Design

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

The challenge for Hong Kong to become the next big technology hub is talent attraction.

Technology as a field moves fast so finding the right talent for the

company will be a challenge for 92% of CIOs in the first half of 2015.

Missing puzzle pieces

A desire to retain existing top staff have 80% of CIOs losing sleep too.

Slowing the potential exodus of critical talent

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYHiring Trends

Challenged to find skilled talent

92%

Concerned aboutlosing top talent

80%

We hope this report has been useful and invite you to contact us for help with any of your recruitment needs.

For more information, please visit:

roberthalf.com.hk/employment-report-h1-2015

© 2015 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer.