Taiwan’s labor demand to surge in early 2015

2014-12-04

Taiwan is projected to see a labor market demand surge in early 2015, adding 44,300 new jobs by the end of January compared with October this year, according to a survey released Dec. 2 by the Ministry of Labor.

In terms of sector demand, the services industry is expected to hire 22,800 more workers, and the manufacturing industry 20,800, the ministry said.

The survey was conducted Oct. 20 to Nov. 7 among Taiwan businesses with more than 30 staff members. Of the 3,011 respondents, 22.43 percent plan to employ new people, and 67.04 percent expect their personnel number to remain constant as of the end of January.

Ascribing the surge to robust economic development, the MOL estimated a year-on-year growth rate of new recruits to reach 51 percent for the early 2015 labor market, setting a record high in the last three years.

“Hiring is expected to continue to expand through the first quarter, as demand will not peak until the Lunar New Year holidays in med-February,” an MOL official said. “The upward trend should gain a further boost from strong holiday demand in the domestic market.”

Top reasons for survey respondents to seek new recruits include workforce replenishment, 44.10 percent, and market demand expansion, 42.11 percent.

The strongest labor demand should be found in the dining and hospitality sector, which should add 5,600 new employees by January-end, the MOL said. It is followed by the electronic component manufacturing industry, 4,800; retail and wholesale, 3,900; finance and insurance, 3,400; metal product fabrication, 2,500; and machinery and equipment manufacturing, 1,800.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=224850&CtNode=413)