Q1 2013 Hiring Index - jobsDB · jobsDB Q1 2013 Hiring Index jobsDB.com | PAGE 10/25 COPYRIGHT@2013, jobsDB Hong Kong. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2.3 Turnover rate by size of companies For

Q1 2013 Hiring Index

jobsDB.com | PAGE 1/25jobsDB Q1 2013 Hiring IndexCOPYRIGHT@2013, jobsDB Hong Kong. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This report aims to provide information about the hiring plan and preference of employers in

the coming months. A summary of staff turnover and employer’s responses to the outbreak of

H7N9 in China are also included. All information is based on the most updated information

from 130 corporations in Hong Kong.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this report is for reference only. Whilst jobsDB endeavors to ensure the accuracy of the information in this report, no express or implied

warranty is given by jobsDB as to the accuracy of the information. jobsDB shall not be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business or

loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use this report, or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a

result of using this report or any such material.

Introduction


1. Objective

The aim of this survey is to collect information on the hiring intention and preference of employers in Hong Kong. These findings will assist

employers in devising HR policies in the coming months. To keep HR professionals updated with the latest market information, starting from

April 2009, jobsDB has been conducting this survey every three months to keep track of the market changes.

2. Survey Coverage

The survey covers 130 companies, among which, 58% employ less than 50 staff, 16% employ 50-100 staff, 9% employ 101-200 staff, 13%

employ 201-500 staff, and 3% employ more than 500 staff.

Scope and Methodology

58%

16%

9%

13%

3%

Size of participating companies

Less than 50 staff

50 - 100 staff

101 - 200 staff

201 - 500 staff

More than 500 staff


3. Data Collection Method

The survey was conducted by an online questionnaire. Companies were invited through e-mail to fill in the questionnaire from 23 Apr to 3

May 2013.

Scope and Methodology (cont.)


HR General Planning

HR PLANNING


1.1 Hiring plan in the coming three months

Among the respondents, 59% said they will hire staff in the coming three months, down 4% from Q4 2012. 17% of respondents said they will

freeze head count. 2% of respondents will cut head count.

1. HR General Planning

Q1 2012 Q2 2012 Q3 2012 Q4 2012 Q1 2013

We will hire staff 67% 54% 63% 63% 59%

We will cut head count 1% 6% 2% 2% 2%

We will freeze head count 19% 23% 25% 14% 17%

No plan yet 13% 16% 11% 21% 22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

% o

f co

mp

an

ies

Hiring plan comparison (Quarterly)

Remarks: Sum of percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding


1.2 Level of staff to be hired

Among respondents who intend to hire staff in the coming three months, 65% of them will hire Clerical / Frontline staff, 27% will hire

Supervisory / Officers and 57% will hire Middle Management / Non-managerial / Professionals. 17% of them will hire Top / Senior

Management.

1. HR General Planning

65%

27%

57%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Clerical / Frontline Staff Supervisory / Officers Middle Management / Non-managerial / Professionals

Top / Senior Management

% o

f c

om

pa

nie

s

Hiring plan by level of staff

Remark: Multiple answers are allowed and sum of percentages may not equal 100%


HR General Planning

STAFF TURNOVER AND RETENTION


2.1 Staff resignation in past three months

Among all respondents, 69% reported that they have staff resigned in the past three months.

2. Staff Turnover and Retention

Yes69%

No31%

Did any of your staff resign in the past three months?


2.2 Distribution of turnover rate

Among the respondents, a total of 65% reported that the staff turnover rate in the last three months is less than or equal to 5%. A total of 86%

reported the turnover rate in the last three months is less than 10%. 3% reported a staff turnover rate of more than 50% in the past three

months. The average turnover rate among all respondents is 8.6%.


31%

34%

21%

5%

2%4% 3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

0% 0.1% - 5.0% 5.1% - 10.0% 10.1% - 20.0% 20.1% - 30.0% 30.1% - 50.0% More than 50%

% o

f co

mp

an

ies

Turnover rate

Distribution of turnover rate in the past three months

Average turnover rate = 8.6%


2.3 Turnover rate by size of companies

For companies with 201 – 500 staff, the average turnover rate in the past three months is the lowest (6.6%). For companies with more than

500 staff, the average turnover rate in the same period is highest (24.3%). The average turnover rate for companies with less than 50 staff is

6.7%.


6.7

11.4

14.0

6.6

24.3

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Less than 50 staff 50 - 100 staff 101 - 200 staff 201 - 500 staff More than 500 staff

Tu

rno

ver

rate

(%

)

Average turnover rate in the past three months - by size of companies



2.4 Turnover rate by industry

The highest turnover rate is recorded for the Food and Beverage (19.0%) sector, followed by Freight Forwarding / Delivery / Shipping (14.7%)

and Human Resources Management / Consultancy (14.1%).


Remarks: Only industries with at least 3 respondents are included

13.7

6.8

0.7

6.0 7.3

4.0 4.2

19.0

14.7 14.1

6.6

13.1

5.2 3.8

2.5

7.2

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

Tu

rno

ver

rate

(%

)

Average turnover rate - by industry



2.5 Level of staff with highest turnover rate

Among the respondents who have staff resigned in the past three months, 62% of them reported that Clerical / Frontline Staff has the highest

turnvover rate, followed by Middle Management / Non-managerial / Professionals (23%) and Supervisory / Officers (14%).


62%14%

23%

Which level of staff has the highest turnover rate?

Clerical / Frontline Staff

Supervisory / Officers

Middle Management / Non-managerial / Professionals



2.6 Retention of leaving staff

Among the respondents who have staff resigned in the past three months, 63% tried to retain leaving staff.


Yes63%

No37%

Did you try to retain leaving staff?


2.7 Measures for retaining leaving staff

Among the respondents who tried to retain leaving staff, the most common measure is by “increasing salary” (82%). 44% tried to retain

leaving staff by “providing training / career development opportunities”, and 40% by “providing better work arrangement”.


82%

44%40%

35%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

By increasing salary By providing training / career development

opportunities

By providing better work arrangement

By promotion Others

% o

f co

mp

an

ies

What are the measures for retaining leaving staff?



2.8 Most effective measures for staff retention

Among the respondents who tried to retain leaving staff, 67% reported that “increasing salary” is the most effective measures for retaining

leaving staff. This is followed by “promotion” (12%) and “providing better work arrangement” (11%).


67%

12%

11%

9%2%

Which do you think is the most effective measure?

By increasing salary

By promotion

By providing better work arrangement

By providing training / career development opportunities

Others



INFECTIOUS DISEASE PRECAUTIONS


3.1 Preventive measures in response to outbreak of H7N9 disease in China

Among all respondents, 38% have taken preventive measures in response to the outbreak of H7N9 disease in China.

3. Infectious Disease Precautions

Yes38%

No62%

Does your company take any preventive measures in response to the outbreak of H7N9 disease in China?


3.2 Preventive measures taken in Hong Kong office

Among respondents who have taken preventive measures, the most common preventive measure is “provide face masks to staff in need”

(80%), followed by “advise staff with respiratory symptoms to wear face masks” (76%) and “provide disinfectant hand soup to staff” (66%).


80%76%

66%

56%54%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Provide face masks to staff in need

Advise staff with respiratory symptons to wear face masks

Provide disinfectant hand soap to staff

Issue staff guidelines/health tips on prevention of infectious

diseases

Increase frequency of office cleaning and disinfection

% o

f co

mp

an

ies

What preventive measures do you take at your Hong Kong office?



3.3 Business trip to H7N9-affected area

Among all respondents, 35% require their staff to travel to H7N9-affected areas in China for business purposes.


Yes35%

No65%

Do your staff need to travel to H7N9-affected areas in China?


3.4 Effect on business trip to H7N9-affected area

Among the respondents who require their staff to travel to the H7N9-affected area, more than half (61%) said that they go on trips to the

affected areas as scheduled. 33% reduce the number of trips to the affected areas, and only 7% cancel all trips to the affected areas.


7%

33%

61%

Does your company cancel business trips to the affected areas after the outbreak of H7N9 in China?

Yes, we cancelled all trips to the affected areas

Yes, we have reduced the number of trips to the affected areas

No, we go on trips to the affected areas as scheduled



3.5 Preventive measure for staff travelling to affected areas

Among the respondents who require their staff to travel to the H7N9-affected area, 51% of them provide face masks and disinfectant hand

soap to travelling staff. 44% provide prevention guidelines, and 27% provide H7N9 news regularly. 24% do not provide any preventive

measures for travelling staff.



51%

44%

27%

11%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Provide face masks and disinfectant hand soap

Provide prevention guidelines

Provide H7N9 news regularly

Get additional insurance that covers emergency

medical assistance

None of the above

% o

f co

mp

an

ies

What preventive measures or support have you offered for staff travelling to the affected areas?


3.6 Contingency plan for the outbreak of infectious disease

Among all respondents, only 3% have set up a contingency plan before the outbreak of SARS in 2003. 32% have set up a contingency plan

during or after the outbreak of SARS. 24% of respondents do not have a contingency plan, but plan to set up for one. 41% of respondents do

not have any plan of setting up a contingency plan.



3%

32%

24%

41%

Does your company have a contingency plan to prepare for an outbreak of infectious disease in Hong Kong?

Yes, we have set up a contingency plan before SARS

Yes, we have set up a contingency plan during/after SARS

No, but we plan to set up a contingency plan

No, we don't plan to set up a contingency plan


3.7 Contingency measures to be employed

Among the respondents who have or plan to have a contingency plan for outbreak of infectious disease, 61% will reduce trips and meetings.

52% will arrange employees to work from home. 36% will separate staff to work from different offices to minimize the risk of infection.



61%

52%

36%

21%

8%5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Reduce trips and meetings

Work from home Separate staff to work from different offices to

minimize the risk of infection

Arrange back-up staff Transfer some functions overseas

Standby medical staff

% o

f co

mp

an

ies

What contingency measures would be employed by your company?


HR General Planning

The hiring intention in the coming quarter is expected to decline slightly. The survey results show that 59% of employers intend to hire staff in

the coming three months, down 4% from Q4 2012. Clerical / Frontline staff has the highest demand, with 65% of employers plan to look for

staff at this level.

Staff Turnover and Retention

The average staff turnover rate in the past three months is 8.6%, with 69% of employers have staff resigned in the past three months.

Companies with more than 500 staff have the highest average turnover rate (24.3%), and the Food and Beverage sector has the highest

average turnover rate (19.0%) among all industries.

Among the respondents who have staff resigned in the past three months, 63% of employers tried to retain their leaving staff. Increasing

salary is both the most commonly used (82%) and most effective measure (67%) cited by employers.

Infectious Disease Precautions

In response to the outbreak of H7N9 flu in China, 38% of employers have taken preventive measures in Hong Kong office, including provide

face masks to staff in need (80%), advise staff with respiratory symptoms to wear face masks (76%) and provide disinfectant hand

soup to staff (66%).

35% of companies have regular business trips to the H7N9-affected areas. 7% of them cancel all the trips to affected areas, and 33% reduce

the number of trips. More than half of the companies go on trips as scheduled.

A total of 59% companies have or plan to have contingency plan to prepare for the outbreak of infectious disease, including reduce trips and

meetings (61%), arrange employees to work from home (52%) and separate staff to work from different offices to minimize the risk

of infection (36%). Before the outbreak of SARS in 2003, only 3% of companies have such contingency plan.

Summary

Q1 2013 Hiring Index - jobsDB · jobsDB Q1 2013 Hiring Index jobsDB.com | PAGE 10/25 COPYRIGHT@2013, jobsDB Hong Kong. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2.3 Turnover rate by size of companies For

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