The number of IPOs being conducted in Hong Kong has ensured demand for corporate lawyers stays strong in the midst of what Robert Walters describes as a ‘v’ shaped Asian recovery in Q3 2010. The recruitment firm has released its Asia Job Index for the period from July to September, indicating positive jobs growth for the region in both legal and related financial sectors.

Billed as the top IPO market early in 2010, Hong Kong was expected to experience a slowdown in activity levels and confidence later on. That slowdown has not materialized as advertisements for legal jobs only slowed by 0.72%, most likely because of holidays in the area, according to the index report.

Candidates were primarily sought for revenue generating roles, but more recently firms have started to take on support staff as the local economy continues to grow, according to Matthew Bennett, managing director, Robert Walters Hong Kong. He said firms were hiring from overseas to meet skills shortages and salaries have risen as much as 20%. “There is no doubt that employers want better qualified candidates than they had in place during the downturn and they are continuing to search for quality,” he said.