Results of a quarterly employment survey conducted by the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) released yesterday showed that demand for labor was up noticeably from the previous quarter.
However, seasonal variations in demand meant that while some sectors were experiencing an increase in demand for workers, others were seeing a contraction.
The survey received 3,194 valid responses from companies employing more than 30 people. It showed that in the next three months, Taiwanese employers will hire 57,000 employees and fire 33,000, a net increase of 24,000.
"As the summer holidays end, the leisure and entertainment sector will contract," said Tan Wen-lin (
"Similarly, with Christmas and sales season coming up, manufacturing will be going up," Tan said.
As this was the first year the survey had been held, Tan said that it was difficult to say whether the rise in hiring was the result of the improved economic outlook or just a consequence of seasonal variations.
"Hopefully, as we continue to carry this survey in the years to come we will begin to see patterns in how employment changes over the seasons," Tan said. "This way we will know how to interpret these figures in future."
At 40.5 percent, the principal reason for hiring new workers was to fill vacancies. The need to expand into new markets was next, at 28.6.
The main reason for getting rid of workers was downsizing, at 28.7 percent, followed by "a more efficient use of labor," at 26 percent.
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