Insurance hiring outpaces banking in Hong Kong for 2026

Despite digitalisation, life insurance claims roles are still hard to fill.

The Hong Kong insurance sector’s hiring momentum was pegged stronger than that of the banking sector this 2026, according to Randstad’s 2026 market outlook & salary guide.

Insurers are expanding into Dubai, Thailand and the Philippines as domestic markets in Hong Kong and China mature, the report said.

The industry has also seen reduced demand for permanent back-office staff but increasing use of contract roles and flexible hiring for claims, customer service, and policy administration.

Despite digitalisation, life insurance claims roles are hard to fill due to the sensitivity of claims decisions, the need for human judgement, and rising case volumes.

“Insurers are also flexibly expanding their claims and underwriting teams through contract hires to meet rising volumes and increasingly complex customer requirements,” the report stated.

The report also said that Hong Kong’s financial talent market next year will favour firms that balance precision and innovation, combining fiscal discipline with investment in human capital to sustain competitiveness in a transforming global environment.

Job seekers in the insurance industry could expect a starting salary of $2,340 (HK$18,000) (entry-level officers across admin, CS, and claims).

Typical mid-career salary ranges from $6,500 (HK$50,000) to $11,700 (HK$90,000).

Some high-demand specialist roles are in actuarial, underwriting, product, and transformation. These can range from $15,600 (HK$120,000) to $39,000 (HK$300,000).

Meanwhile, the role with the highest salary in the insurance industry is the Chief Actuary, which can range from $23,400 (HK$180,000) to $39,000 (HK$300,000).

($1.00 = HK$7.78)