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Wage Growth Slows Across the GBA, but Hong Kong Leads for the Third Consecutive Year

24 Oct, 2025

Professor Huang Xu, Director (centre) and Dr Felix Yip, Associate Director (right) of the Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development of the School of Business at HKBU, and Mr Ray Leung (left), President of the Hong Kong People Management Association and Chairperson of the Committee of the 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Pay and Benefits Survey, present the survey results. Professor Huang Xu, Director (centre) and Dr Felix Yip, Associate Director (right) of the Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development of the School of Business at HKBU, and Mr Ray Leung (left), President of the Hong Kong People Management Association and Chairperson of the Committee of the 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Pay and Benefits Survey, present the survey results.

The 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Pay and Benefits Survey, conducted by the Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development (CHRSD) at HKBU School of Business, in collaboration with the Research Center for Human Resources Management at the South China University of Technology, the Hong Kong People Management Association, and the Talent Development and Management Association of Guangdong, reveals that Hong Kong's average salary increase of 2.5% surpasses that of Guangdong (1.8%) and Macau (1.6%). This marks a rare trend that has only occurred three times in the past 31 years.

Professor Huang Xu, Director of CHRSD, commented on the significant drop in turnover rates for mid-to-senior-level staff in Hong Kong, suggesting that the emigration wave may be easing.

Meanwhile, the average starting salary for Hong Kong bachelor's graduates has plateaued at HK$19,500, ending a five-year trend of increases. The highest-paying sectors include engineering (HK$21,500), information technology (HK$20,500), and finance and accounting, along with research and development (both HK$20,000).

Additionally, the third-generation smart research platform “AI Remuneration Consultant” developed by HKBU’s Centre for Human Resources Strategy and Development will be available to the survey’s participating enterprises free of charge starting end October. Companies can use the platform to benchmark pay levels for employees across all tiers against other companies in different regions and industries within the GBA. The platform also leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to assess companies’ compensation policies and provide optimisation recommendations, helping them reduce costs and improve efficiency.

As the region navigates shifting salary dynamics, Hong Kong remains a leader in wage growth, reflecting its distinct economic landscape within the Greater Bay Area.

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