Hiring to remain subdued in second half, says report

Employers in China are adopting a cautious outlook toward hiring in the second half of the year, with only 43 percent keen on increasing headcount, down 16.4 percentage points from the first quarter and below the 50 percent threshold, according to a report by recruitment specialist firm Hudson Global Inc.

The report, however, said China still tops other nations in hiring demand, with the 2015 full-year figure at 51.2.

"This is a seasonal shift as many firms generally step up hiring activity in the first half of the year and trim hiring intentions for the second half as the focus shifts to filling critical, must-have roles," said Lily Bi, general manager of Hudson Shanghai.