In the next 12 months, over a third, or 36% of companies across Asia expect permanent staff levels to increase, according to Hays.

This an improvement on the previous year, when 29% of companies increased staffing levels and 30% saw cutbacks.

In China, 50% of companies plan to increase staff levels. Meanwhile, 56% expect staff to stay the same in in Hong Kong and 54% in Singapore.

Hays also found that 42% of organisations will implement hiring freezes whether for the first three months of the year (9%) the first six months (16%) or indefinitely (17%), with companies in Malaysia being the most likely to do so (10%, 21% and 21%, respectively) – with the potential for lifting them later in the year. Furthermore, this leaves 58% of companies, which may be open to recruitment should the opportunity arise.

Hays also found that fewer temporary or contract professionals are being employed on a regular, ongoing basis, with 26% of businesses doing so, a decline of 6% since 2020. Employers in Japan were the most likely to continue with this strategy (38%), though at a markedly lower level than in 2019 (54%). In terms of recruitment for temporary staff, 17% of companies plan to cut back in the year to come, the same as in 2020.

Though work-life balance is a key consideration in 2021 for new roles, ‘salary’ is the primary concern as it was the most preferred option for employees (49%) and candidates (58%) alike, with jobseekers in China (69%) and employees Malaysia (57%) most likely to make this selection.

However, salaries stagnated over the last year, as 35% of companies provided no increase, rising to 38% in Japan and Hong Kong, almost double that of 2020 (18%). In addition, 6% of companies in Asia decreased wages, and these trends are likely to continue in 2021, with 37% of employers forecasting no change and 4% predicting a decline.

“Despite the obvious hardships that we all faced last year, 55% of companies in Asia expect business activities to increase in 2021. Though this is a 4% drop on last year’s predictions, it shows a degree of confidence that if the corner has not yet been turned, it soon may be,”Richard Eardley, Managing Director at Hays Asia, said. “Backing up this assurance is how companies foresee the growth of their local economy in the next six to twelve months, where 33% expect it to strengthen, which is a vast improvement on last year’s 21%, and not far behind the 36% of 2019.”