IT professionals very much in demand in Hong Kong

It's an ideal time for job moving.

Hong Kong’s IT recruitment market is very active and candidates say it is an ideal time to look for their next move.

According to a release from Hays, in its latest Hays Quarterly Report of skills in demand for July to September, the recruiter highlights that Project Managers, IT Directors and Developers are all highly sought after.

“The IT services sector is growing very rapidly and is constantly looking for good candidates,” says Dean Stallard, Regional Director of Hays in Hong Kong.

“There is also an abundance of in-house positions for senior people who can lead departments and manage outsourced vendors. In addition, there are many senior level roles open in large companies that are looking to update their IT systems and capabilities.”

Here's more from Hays:

According to the recruiter, the other major trend impacting vacancy activity is mainland China’s continued imposing of controls on the information stored and processed across its borders.

“The stricter regulations are resulting in many companies moving their regional IT function to Hong Kong for both freedom of information and security of intellectual property,” says Dean.

In terms of skills in demand, Director level IT professionals who can lead and grow teams as companies update and expand their IT capability are particularly sought. “There are many regional level roles available that require someone who can communicate with smaller teams across the region from a central hub in Hong Kong.

“Developers are also in high demand. In fact, there are many current openings for junior Developers who are looking to sharpen their skills in web development and mobile applications. Skills in Java, C#, C++, PHP and other web base languages are sought by employers.”

The recruiter says Business Analysts/Project Managers are needed too. “There are many openings for candidates in all areas of the IT industry but especially in IT service providers as the industry gets busier,” says Dean.

“Overall, we’re seeing high demand for experienced IT professionals as companies look to grow their capability. It’s therefore an exciting time to be an IT professional.”