Hiring by Hong Kong firms to rise

Close to nine in 10 intend to increase or maintain headcount in 2013.

The latest Regus Business Confidence Index show that 28% of firms expect to increase headcount by 5% or more, indicating that local companies feel relatively confident about the future. On the other hand, only 13.7% expect headcount reductions this year.

Of those surveyed, 59% intend to hire additional sales and marketing staff will be taken on, while 39% intend to increase operational staff.

Regus said the fact that nearly 60% say that additional staff will be sales and marketing personnel further underlines this. Hong Kong companies think that the market is there for their goods and services, and aim to get out there and start selling.

Of local businesses in Hong Kong, 47% said they experienced an increase in revenues and 36% said profits increased over the past 12 months.

Eighty-five percent of global businesses are planning to increase or maintain headcount in 2013, and one in four plan an expansion of more than 5%.