Source:hk.jobsdb.com

54 per cent of employers across Hong Kong have used flexible staffing arrangements in the past year, with temporary/contractors the most popular option, according to the 2016 Hays Asia Salary Guide.

Nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of the employers in Hong Kong surveyed for the Guide now use temporary/contract staff on a regular, ongoing basis – up five per cent compared to the previous Hays survey. A further 33 per cent of employers use temporary and contract staff on special projects as needed.

Looking ahead, 18 per cent of organisations in Hong Kong plan to increase their use of temporary and contract staff this year.

From a regional perspective, flexible work options are also gaining popularity across Asia. The Guide, based on a survey of more than 3,000 employers across China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, shows 70 per cent of the employers are offering flexible work hours and 49 per cent allowing some employees to work from home known as “flex-place”. A further 29 per cent of employers offer part-time employment opportunities; 19 per cent increased maternity/paternity leave, 16 per cent career breaks, 13 per cent flexible leave options, 10 per cent job sharing and two per cent phased retirement.

“Given the speed of change most organisations have to navigate in today’s global business environment, being able to tap into a flexible workforce is vital to staying competitive,” says Christine Wright, Managing Director of Hays in Asia.

“Job tenures are decreasing and careers develop by moving organisations to gather additional experience rather than staying with one or two employers for an entire career, making temporary and contract assignments an ideal way to do this,” said Christine.

“At the same time, Asian employers are focusing more attention on the way people want to work. Our research shows work-life balance is increasingly important to candidates across Asia, making policies such as flexible hours and leave options a great way for employers to stand out.”