In brief
App developer shortages were a major obstacle for Hong Kong businesses in 2019: 66% of survey respondents considered insufficient development staff their biggest operational problem, despite slightly higher revenues than in 2017.
The Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association and the Hong Kong Productivity Council recently released the Hong Kong Mobile Apps Industry Survey Report 2019. The survey interviewed 100 local Hong Kong smartphone app developers and related businesses to understand the industry's current market and operating conditions. The report shows that a shortage of app developers can affect business operations and growth.
Regarding current salaries for mobile app development engineers in Hong Kong, 69% earn HK$20,000 to HK$39,000 per month. The proportion earning HK$10,000 to HK$19,000 per month fell from 45% in 2017 to 23% this year. These figures show that app developers are currently in high demand.
Annual revenue figures for the surveyed businesses showed a slight increase in 2019 compared with 2017. The proportion of businesses with revenue above HK$20 million rose from 5% in 2017 to 9% in 2019. Businesses with revenue below HK$500,000 accounted for 15%, down 9% from 2017. Although businesses viewed the business environment for app development more positively, 66% of respondents considered a shortage of app development staff to be the biggest problem facing their business operations.
Original article URL: https://bit.ly/2Y8XZYv