For skilled workers seeking a new job during the current economic slump, there's hope in the latest Hays China Quarterly Report, released in early October.

According to the report, the third quarter results suggest that hiring demand for skilled professionals will be buoyant so it is advisable for both candidates and employers to negotiate if they think they have a near perfect match.

Finance managers and financial planning and analysis managers are in demand due to the growth in small and medium-sized enterprises and newly invested companies, which are looking for guidance in financial matters and to improve business performance, according to the report. Accountants are always in demand to ensure a business is profitable.

Commercial managers and candidates with business finance experience are also in demand because more businesses prefer accounting staff to have business sense and conduct business analysis and accounting.

Meanwhile, internal auditors, high-level tax specialists and project accountants are seeing increasing opportunity in the job market.

Commodities traders are in demand as trading houses start to strengthen their business in China. Candidates in corporate financial operations are also in demand because some of the banks are outsourcing this function from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland.

Compliance specialists are also sought after because banking is strongly regulated by the government in China, and compliance is an area of great importance that constantly demands recruits.

Demand for wholesale banking relationship managers and investment associates also remains strong.

There is a trend among local candidates in finance IT to seek out opportunities to move into the revenue generating markets, such as Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States, and high-profile local firms in China are also looking to those markets as well.

"Candidates are also increasingly expected to have good English speaking skills even in industries where this was previously not a priority, such as IT," said Simon Lance, regional director of Hays in China.

"Candidates are placing job security above career development or compensation when they look for their next role. And those candidates seeking work are seeing the high potential of local firms in the global jobs market," he said.

[email protected]