Survey shows China’s professionals have high expectations – for low pay

A major survey by London-based recruitment firm Hays, polling 13,000 professionals across Asia, reveals a stark picture of pay stagnation and pessimism in China's job market. The data shows 44% of Chinese professionals anticipate no salary increase in 2026, the highest share anywhere in Asia, with an additional 6% expecting a pay cut. This follows a year where 51% received no raise at all in 2025, significantly higher than the 36% Asian average, and one in ten actually saw their pay reduced. These figures point to a workforce experiencing the region's most severe salary freeze.

The findings highlight "increasing dissatisfaction with pay" which is directly influencing job mobility sentiment. The 44% dissatisfaction rate with current salaries matches the Asian average, but the lack of recent increases and bleak outlook is more pronounced. This trend is attributed to broader economic pressures, including a persistent glut of university graduates, strained public finances, and weak consumer demand, which have collectively prompted employers to keep compensation low. The survey suggests this financial pessimism is a key factor shaping career decisions and talent retention challenges in China's professional sector.