Employers in China anticipate a slightly higher median salary increase next year as they push to retain top-tier talent despite financial pressures following a soft 2026, according to data published by a global advisory. Even so, the three-year figure would still lag Asia-Pacific regional averages over the same period by 0.4 percentage points, it added. “The data for China highlights a classic optimisation challenge,” a WTW spokeswoman told the South China Morning Post in a statement. “Employers are caught between managing organisational costs and safeguarding top-tier talent .” She said the slowdown in 2026 was primarily driven by intense corporate cost-control pressures and weaker-than-expected financial results.