Robert Walters: Job Market Remains Cautious in 2012

HONG KONG, March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Robert Walters, one of the world's leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies, has launched its annual global Salary Survey.

Now in its 13th edition, the annual Robert Walters Global Salary Survey is the most comprehensive review of global recruitment trends and salary levels available.

Key findings for Hong Kong:

Overview for 2011

• Hong Kong experienced active hiring in the first half of 2011 across most industries. However more caution was exercised during the second half as a result of European and US economic volatility
• Within the banking and financial services sector, growth in the front office saw a flow through to back office roles within finance, which remained a 'must-have' function for most companies
• Recruitment across the commerce sector continued to grow with steady demand for experienced professionals across various functions such as IT support, shipping, supply chain and HR. Demand levels remained strong in the face of global economic uncertainty
• With sales in the retail sector  jumping 24.1 percent in September from a year earlier to HK$31.2 billion (USD$4 billion) in 2011, sales and marketing professionals in the retail and luxury sector were highly sought-after

Outlook for 2012

• Many companies are expected to adopt the same cautious approach to hiring as seen in the second half of 2011 as they continue to monitor the global economic climate
• Experienced professionals will continue to be in demand across all sectors, but organisations will be more selective in their hiring to ensure they bring on the right talent who can add value to the company -- even more so this year in light of global economic uncertainty
• While banks and financial services firms may adopt a 'wait-and-see' approach in the first half of 2012, banks will continue to hire for critical positions particularly in the areas of governance and compliance
• Companies in the commerce spacewill continue growing, with retail, education and tourism businesses likely to be at the forefront of hiring activity
• Contracting may be an option for both employers experiencing challenges in gaining headcount; and for candidates who are open to the prospect of working on a variety of exciting new projects

For more comprehensive insight about various job functions across different industries, download the latest Salary Survey, a full copy of the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey can be downloaded from www.robertwalters.com.hk/salarysurvey

About Robert Walters

Robert Walters is an award-winning business and one of the world's largest professional recruitment consultancies. The Group has a network of 47 offices spanning 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Continental Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa and Brazil. For more information about Robert Walters Hong Kong, visit www.robertwalters.com.hk.

The Global Salary Survey

The Robert Walters Salary Survey provides an in-depth analysis of salaries earned around the world by both permanent and contract workers across a wide range of sectors. The Hong Kong section covers the following sectors: accounting & finance, banking & financial services, human resources & business support, IT & telecommunications, sales & marketing as well as supply chain, procurement & logistics.

A full copy of the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey can be downloaded from www.robertwalters.com.hk/salarysurvey

The Robert Walters Salary Checker App

Employees now have a way to check how much they are really worth with the free Robert Walters Salary Checker iPhone app.

Drawing on data from the Robert Walters Global Salary Survey, the Salary Checker App contains a database of salaries and contract rates by role and sector. Using GPS technology, the app automatically recognises the location of the user, who can then simply choose their professional discipline and job title to generate their current market rate.

The Salary Checker App is free to download for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad users from the iTunes app store.

Robert Walters Hong Kong
20/F Nexxus Building
41 Connaught Road, Central
Hong Kong
T: +852 2103 5300
F: +852 2103 5301
E: hongkong@robertwalters.com

For further information or interview requests, please contact:

Elisa Yiu
Marketing Manager, Robert Walters Hong Kong
E: elisa.yiu@robertwalters.com.hk
T: +852 2161 9402
M: +852 6298 2120

Joyce Lin
Editorial & PR Specialist, Asia
E: joyce.lin@robertwalters.com.sg
T: +65 6228 5313
M: +65 9770 1133