Asia Pacific pay, talent and AI: Navigating a transformative workforce landscape in 2026

The Asia Pacific salary landscape enters 2026 in a state of stable yet significant transition. While median salary increases were steady at 4.9%, the 75th percentile for salary increase has dropped to 5.2% (Figure 1). This indicates a narrowing gap between the market median and the upper quartile. It can also be a sign that the differences across industries and companies are beginning to compress, reflecting more disciplined and converging salary increase strategies.