Financial institutions are becoming more willing to recruit in Hong Kong for jobs based in the mainland.

Take foreign investment banks. They will continue to hire Hong Kong candidates this year and relocate them to China, according to Sarah Poon, consulting manager, Kelly Selection.

Research analysts in Hong Kong, for example, usually focus on both the HK and mainland markets, “so it’s possible for them to move to China to perform the same role there,” adds Poon.

Western banks like to hire Hong Kong nationals because of their language skills and their exposure to a mature financial sector, says Nicole Yan, accounting & finance practice, Manpower China.

Although salaries are usually lower (and tax rates are higher) than in Hong Kong, the main attraction of PRC jobs is that they offer plentiful future career opportunities thanks to the size and expansion-rate of the Chinese market .

“Hong Kong candidates with investment experience in the energy, mining, bio-tech, and pharmaceutical industries are in demand in China. With more companies in this sector going through M&As or IPOs, professionals from Hong Kong, with local market experience, are currently the best choice,” comments Yan.

The Chinese employment market is also attracting experienced retail bankers from Hong Kong, especially those with sales, service and team-management experience, according to Gregory Rastello, an executive consultant at Talent2 Beijing.

“And the recent launch of insurance products in foreign banks in a relatively premature market represents an opportunity for Mandarin speakers to gain China experience,” he adds.