Hong Kong's average wage rate for all selected industry sections surveyed rose 3.4% in nominal terms in June 2026 compared with a year earlier, according to figures the Census and Statistics Department released on September 28, 2026. After discounting Consumer Price Index (A) changes, the overall wage index rose 1.6% in real terms. About 62% of companies reported higher average wage rates year on year, 33% reported decreases and 5% reported virtually no change.

The payroll index per person engaged for all surveyed sections rose 3.5% in nominal terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, or 1.6% in real terms after discounting Composite Consumer Price Index changes. Nominal wage index increases ranged from 2.4% to 4.2% across all selected sections, with real increases of 0.6% to 2.4%. Nominal payroll index rises ranged from 2.0% to 5.3%; real payroll increases ranged from 0.5% to 3.3%, except sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, which was virtually unchanged.

A Government spokesman said wage and labour earnings continued to rise solidly in the second quarter of 2026, with gains broad-based across industries, and that wage growth was expected to remain positive. The department noted that wage and payroll statistics differ in employee coverage and concepts, so their movements do not necessarily match closely.