53% of respondents expect their jobs to be automated in the next five to 10 years.

In a world of work that is radically transformed by digitalisation, employers are finding it difficult to find talent with the right skills. Close to eight in 10 (78%) of respondents expect their employers to invest more in developing their digital capabilities to help them stay employable. 

preparing the workforce for the future

According to the latest Q2 2019 Randstad Workmonitor study, 83% of respondents feel equipped to deal with digitalisation in their jobs. Despite being prepared for the future of work, 53% of respondents expect their jobs to be automated in the next five to 10 years. This is 19 points higher than the global average (34%). Natellie Sun, Managing Director at Randstad Hong Kong, said, “The wave of digitalisation has already started to reshape traditional businesses, and the future of work will require a different set of skills. The need for future-ready skills is the most critical challenge that companies across all industries in Hong Kong SAR face. Even though people feel equipped to deal with digitalisation in their jobs, companies need to prepare them for the future where job scopes are expected to become more sophisticated and complex. Companies are pushing hard to upskill their workforce and build a future-ready talent pipeline through skills enablement and training programmes, and we expect to see a rising demand for such robust programmes as well as subsidies from the workforce.”

science, technology, engineering, mathematics

When it comes to sourcing talent, 72% said that their employers are having trouble finding people with the right skills today. Seven in 10 (70%) said that it will be more difficult for their employers to find the right talent in the future.

In addition, 65% said that their employers have a need for workers with STEM profiles. The difficulty in filling STEM job vacancies is addressed in the Randstad’s flexibility@work 2019 report. Similarly, analysis of vacancy data shows that the median advertising duration for a STEM vacancy is more than twice as long as compared to a non-STEM vacancy.

“Hong Kong SAR is already at full employment and it is undoubtedly a candidate-driven market. As more employers look to hire talent equipped with in-demand skills, candidates will likely receive multiple job offers and as a result, possess more negotiating power during the interview process. This means we may observe an increase in average salaries as employers compete with each other to secure the best talent Hong Kong SAR has to offer,” Sun concludes.

randstad workmonitor: Q2 2019

The minimum sample size for the Randstad Workmonitor survey is 400 respondents per market. The 2019 quarter one survey was conducted between April 23 and May 9, 2019.

related workmonitor research:

• annual performance review still a norm in hong kong sar
• hong kongers confident that technology will bring new opportunities

about randstad workmonitor

The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in the Netherlands in 2003, and covers 34 markets around the world. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time. The Workmonitor’s Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next 6 months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions.

The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per market. The Dynata panel is used for sampling purposes. The second survey of 2019 was conducted from 23 April until 9 May 2019.

about randstad

Randstad is the global leader in the HR services industry. We support people and organisations in realising their true potential. We do this by combining the power of today’s technology with our passion for people. We call it Human Forward.

Our services range from regular temporary Staffing and permanent placements to Inhouse Services, Professionals, and HR Solutions, including Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Managed Services Programmes and outplacement.

Randstad has active operations in 38 markets around the world and has top-three positions in almost half of these. In 2018, Randstad had on average 38,820 corporate employees and 4,826 branches and Inhouse locations. In 2018, Randstad generated revenue of €23.8 billion. Randstad was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands. Randstad N.V. is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam, where options for stocks in Randstad are also traded.

Hear what our leaders have to say about #HumanForward or head over to our website and learn more about our Human Forward brand promise.