Over seven in 10 regional companies operating in the Greater Bay Area are maintaining a “cautious stance” on expansion, planning to hire no more than 30 new staff over the next three to five years, a survey has found.

There is, however, strong demand in the market for hybrid professionals who can blend technology and management expertise, according to the study.

The survey was conducted between April and December last year by local recruitment firm KOS International and Guangzhou-based Sun Yat-sen University’s Institute of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Development Studies.

Polling 116 regional companies across various sectors, including traditional manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and modern services, the study found that more than 70 per cent of them planned to add no more than 30 new hires over the next three to five years.

“Most companies are maintaining a cautious stance on business expansion,” institute dean Professor He Junzhi said, releasing the results on Thursday, adding that it could indicate a lack of long-term workforce planning among regional firms, which was likely to have been driven by the broader global economic downturn.

He said the survey aimed to provide the market with a comprehensive overview based on first-hand data.