Deel Report: Hong Kong Climbs to Fourth in APAC Equity Compensation Rankings
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Global payroll and human resources platform Deel has released data showing Hong Kong has emerged as one of the leading equity compensation markets in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2025, Hong Kong ranked fourth globally alongside the Philippines in the number of employees receiving equity through Employer-of-Record (EOR) arrangements, trailing only Australia, Singapore, and India. The data reflects a broader shift in how Hong Kong employers compensate workers, with companies increasingly moving beyond fixed salaries to offer more diverse remuneration packages amid intensifying regional talent competition and Hong Kong's aspirations to become an artificial intelligence hub.
Key Points
- Hong Kong tied with the Philippines for fourth place in APAC EOR equity grants in 2025, behind Australia, Singapore, and India
- The proportion of new APAC hires receiving equity more than doubled from 4% in 2022 to 10% in the first half of 2026
- APAC new hire equity allocation rose from 6.5% in 2023 to 16.7% in H1 2026, while North America and EMEA peaked in 2024 and subsequently declined
- In AI companies, APAC equity grants doubled alongside Latin America, with EMEA's share dropping from 80% to 61% in the same period
- US-headquartered firms remain the most generous equity grantors at 45% average, while equity is expanding beyond engineering into sales roles
Why It Matters
Lauren Thomas, Chief Economist at Deel, noted that equity compensation is no longer the exclusive domain of Silicon Valley or senior management, but has become essential for attracting talent and achieving long-term growth . The shift of equity compensation from EMEA to Asia-Pacific positions Hong Kong to leverage this trend as it pursues its ambition of becoming a regional AI hub, potentially reshaping how the city competes for international talent .
Lauren Thomas, Chief Economist at Deel, noted that equity compensation is no longer the exclusive domain of Silicon Valley or senior management, but has become essential for attracting talent and achieving long-term growth . The shift of equity compensation from EMEA to Asia-Pacific positions Hong Kong to leverage this trend as it pursues its ambition of becoming a regional AI hub, potentially reshaping how the city competes for international talent .