The Hong Kong government has earmarked HK$10 billion to enhance research and development in life sciences and health technology to support collaborations, and foster innovation in drug development, medical devices and healthcare services.
However, the healthcare and life sciences industry in Hong Kong is facing talent scarcity due to several factors, including the entry of new market players, talent shortage, consumer and organisation demand for more affordable products, and rising expectations from candidates.
Download the 2025 Job Market and Salary Guide report to find out more about the key trends influencing the job market, in-demand specialised and soft skills as well as the latest salary benchmarks to attract the right talent in life sciences, medtech and healthcare.
stability in life sciences
Life sciences, particularly projects in molecular biology and next-generation sequencing, are attracting significant foreign investment in Hong Kong. The medical devices industry continues to experience steady growth.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are facing several challenges, including intense competition, slower growth, price wars, and product substitutes.
Recent trends indicate several start-ups entering the Hong Kong market, bringing strong research and development pipelines and actively seeking funding in a regulated environment.
In 2025, these companies are expected to create more job opportunities for talent seeking to work in flatter organisational structures, further intensifying the competition for talent in Hong Kong.
pharmaceutical companies continue to face challenges
Pharmaceutical companies in Hong Kong are grappling with price competition. Once a lucrative area, oncology is now facing challenges as many large firms report weaker product pipelines or slower drug approvals.
Despite these hurdles, there is a noticeable trend of sales, marketing, and medical affairs professionals shifting from primary care roles to specialties like haematology and oncology to pursue career advancement through account management with key clients.
medical devices could quiet down in 2025
Although revenue remains strong in the medical device industry, some large companies are seen to be cutting back on hiring budgets in 2024. This trend will likely continue into 2025.
Due to the competitive talent market and long working hours associated with supporting surgical teams, some sales professionals are seeking opportunities in marketing or clinical specialist positions. When replacing staff, many medical device companies are opting to hire junior-level sales professionals who are equipped with solid technical skills and networks to fulfil similar job responsibilities.
talent demand and soft skills employers value most
In this competitive environment, employers are looking for applicants with relevant experience in healthcare networks and specific therapeutic areas. Such expertise enables new hires to quickly adapt to workflows and start delivering outcomes efficiently.
For managerial roles that involve people management, employers should be looking for skilled professionals who have had success in motivating teams and developing strategies that drive performance. Companies also prefer to hire senior-level talent from the same specialty area for their ability to implement strategies and skills.
Key soft skills that are valued by employers include:
- Presentation Skills: The ability to effectively communicate ideas and information to different stakeholders with varying technical knowledge levels.
- Communication Skills: Effective communication and social skills to build good interpersonal relationships with clients and team members.
Additionally, qualities like self-motivation, a results-driven mindset, and solution-oriented thinking are critical, particularly in sales and marketing.
work and salary expectations for 2025
Candidates are approaching job changes with caution, carefully considering several factors, including the product offering, therapeutic area, personal interests, work environment, company product pipelines, and, most importantly, salary and benefits packages.
Salary increases for new roles are highly competitive, typically ranging from 18% to 25%, depending on the candidate’s skills and experience, as well as the urgency to fill the headcount.
download randstad hong kong’s 2025 job market and salary trends report
Our 2025 Job Market and Salary Trends report cuts through the complexity to deliver actionable insights and expert analysis for insurance firms. In our annual report, you can find salary benchmarks for more than 50 roles ranging from regulatory affairs to field engineering; medical science liaisons to psychologists.
The report examines key talent expectations as well as current industry trends and salary benchmarks in the following industries:
- Accounting and finance
- Banking and financial services
- Business support
- Construction, property and engineering
- Human resources
- Insurance
- Legal
- Life sciences and healthcare
- Luxury and retail
- Supply chain and logistics
- Sales and marketing
- Technology
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