Work-life balance tops Hong Kong employees' priorities, yet 38% quit because of it: Research

Nearly half of Hong Kong respondents said reasonable workloads and expectations are the primary drivers of a healthy work-life balance.

Work-life balance remains the most important factor for Hong Kong employees when evaluating prospective employers, yet poor work-life balance is also the leading reason people resign, according to new research.

The findings come from the 14^th edition of the Randstad’s Employer Brand Research, which surveyed more than 166,000 people globally, including 2,500 respondents in Hong Kong.

The study found that 56% of Hong Kong respondents consider work-life balance the most important employee value proposition (EVP) when choosing an employer, up 10% from 2024.

Attractive salary and benefits ranked second at 52%, followed by job security at 43%.

Meanwhile, career progression entered Hong Kong employees' top five EVP priorities for the first time in six years, signalling a growing focus on long-term career development alongside immediate rewards and daily workplace experiences.

Top 5 EVP priorities by generation:

Employees prioritise practical support over workplace culture

The research suggested that Hong Kong employees view work-life balance through a functional lens, placing greater emphasis on tangible benefits including good environments, reasonable workloads, flexible arrangements, health support, time off, and access to work, over soft factors like supportive leadership and culture.

Among respondents, 44% cited reasonable workloads and expectations as the primary driver of healthy work-life balance, almost double the proportion who prioritised supportive leadership and workplace culture (23%).

Another 42% said flexible working arrangements are critical to helping them balance their professional and personal lives.

However, access to flexibility appears to be shrinking. The proportion of employees offered hybrid or remote working options fell to 32% in 2026, down from 37% a year earlier, as more organisations are mandating return-to-office arrangements.

The report also cautioned employers against creating “pseudo-flexibility”, where flexible arrangements exist in theory but are undermined by excessive workloads or blurred boundaries between work and personal time.

Resignation risks remain despite lower job-switching intentions

Amidst ongoing economic uncertainty, talent is increasingly prioritising security over mobility.

While 30% of respondents said they planned to change jobs, external mobility intentions have slowed down compared to previous years. At the same time, interest in internal transfers has grown to 14%.

Gen Z recorded the strongest intention to switch employers, with 32% planning to change jobs. Millennials were the most likely to seek internal mobility opportunities, with 16% considering an internal move.

Despite the growing preference for stability, many employees are still willing to leave roles that fail to meet their expectations.

According to the research, poor work-life balance remains the leading reason for resignation in Hong Kong, cited by 38.2% of respondents.

Uncompetitive compensation and benefits, along with limited career growth opportunities, were also among the top reasons for leaving.

Notably, 38% of respondents said they left because salaries and benefits failed to keep pace with rising living costs and increasing workloads, while 29% cited a lack of career advancement opportunities as a factor in their decision to leave.

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