Jobsdb Hosts HR Conference 2026 on AI Recruitment Trends

Jobsdb by SEEK, Hong Kong’s leading employment marketplace, successfully hosted the third edition of its HR Conference 2026 at the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong. The event, themed 'Empowering Talent and Technology Towards Tomorrow', brought together nearly 500 human resources professionals to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping recruitment, talent matching and workplace practices across the region.

The conference highlighted the growing complexity of hiring in Hong Kong, where competition among job seekers has intensified and talent mobility remains high. These trends have driven up recruitment costs for employers while increasing demand for candidates with AI-related skills. At the same time, job seekers are placing greater weight on purpose at work, growth opportunities and inclusive workplace culture rather than focusing solely on salary and benefits.

Daryl Lau, Sales Director for Hong Kong at Jobsdb by SEEK, addressed the gathering and outlined the challenges facing employers. “AI and innovative technologies are reshaping recruitment and talent management at an unprecedented pace,” he said. “The core recruitment challenge facing enterprises today is how to quickly assess and identify the most suitable candidates from a vast pool of applications with limited resources. Jobsdb is committed to connecting talent and technology, helping enterprises formulate more resilient talent strategies and match with the most suitable talent.”

Panel discussions formed the core of the programme. The opening session, 'How AI Will Elevate and Redefine HR', featured Edward Ng, Regional Human Resources Director at Vita Green Group; Fanny Lau, Director of Human Resources at New World Development and K11 Hong Kong; Jeff Tang, Partner and Market Development Leader for Consulting at Ernst & Young Advisory Services Limited; and Tina Au-Yeung, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Emperor Group. Speakers expressed optimism about AI’s ability to streamline routine workflows while emphasising that uniquely human soft skills such as communication and collaboration will grow in value. They encouraged HR professionals to combine AI tools with professional judgement to create lasting impact.

A second major panel, 'The Talent War in Asia: Attracting and Retaining the Next Generation Workforce', brought together Annie Wong, Assistant Director of the Office of Co-operative Education Programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Janet Law, Head of Sales for Hong Kong and Greater China at FDM Group; Jovi Yan, Group Learning Lead at AIA Group; and Nishilla McKeogh, Client Director for Early Careers and Campus APAC at AMS. The discussion covered expectations of young talent, cross-border hiring, employer value propositions and regional talent mobility, offering practical recommendations for building effective talent strategies.

Additional sessions explored a range of forward-looking topics. Andrew Lee, Head of Corporate Solutions Strategy at AIA Hong Kong and Macau, presented total wellbeing strategies that extend beyond traditional medical and group insurance. Stacy Liao, Head of People at China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited, examined the role HR can play in an organisation’s AI development journey. Anna Au, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, shared approaches for attracting global talent and supporting long-term integration into the local community. Winnie Tam, Head of People and Culture at KOS International, discussed human-centric leadership in the age of AI, while Keith Chau, Senior Consultant at the School of Professional Education and Executive Development of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, outlined emerging AI trends and practical responses for HR leaders.

Alongside the conference, Jobsdb announced the launch of two new AI-powered features designed to improve hiring outcomes. “Personalised Targeting,” introduced this month, builds on the platform’s market-level intelligence by learning from each employer’s unique hiring activity and role requirements. Targeting becomes more precise with every successful hire. The platform also introduced “Assist,” an always-on hiring partner that supports employers from vacancy posting through to final hire. The tool conducts AI pre-screens and automates reference checks, allowing recruiters to move faster and with greater confidence. Jobsdb further previewed future development of agentic AI capabilities aimed at enhancing the overall recruitment experience.

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As a leading employment marketplace in the Asia Pacific region, Jobsdb continues to combine deep local market expertise with SEEK’s AI technology to deliver more relevant job and talent matches for the Hong Kong market. The company stated its commitment to partnering with enterprises as they adapt to the evolving recruitment landscape.

The success of HR Conference 2026 was supported by a range of sponsors and partners. AIA served as Gold Sponsor, KOS International as Strategic Partner, and Silver Sponsors included Adecco, ASUS, Moka, Talent Axis, Co-Op@CUHK, The University of Manchester, United Technologies, Wai Yuen Tong and Wallstone.

For additional insights into talent strategies for 2026, Jobsdb by SEEK has released its “2026 Talent Blueprint,” available on the company website. The conference underscored a clear message for Hong Kong’s HR community: technology is transforming recruitment at speed, yet human judgement, inclusive culture and purposeful work remain essential to attracting and retaining talent in a competitive market.