Spurred by a low unemployment rate and robust domestic investment, employers are reporting strong hiring intentions for the second quarter, according to a survey released yesterday.
Conducted by Manpower Services (Taiwan) Co, the quarterly report interviewed 1,432 employers in late January, marking Taiwan's debut appearance in the global survey covering over 40,000 companies in 21 markets around the world.
The survey showed that 39 percent of companies polled see increased employment demand for the period between next month and June, 4 percent expect a decrease in hiring activities, while 47 percent anticipate no change, Manpower Services general manager Dennis Lee (李崇領) said at a press conference yesterday.
To better understand developments in each area's job market, a "net employment outlook" figure -- which subtracts the number of employers planning to reduce staffing levels from the number planning to hire staff -- is adopted as a comparative index.
With the net employment outlook at 35 percent, Taiwan has recorded the most optimistic figure, -- alongside Japan -- among 21 markets, the survey found.
Lee attributed the positive outlook to the nation's strong economic momentum.
"Taiwan's labor market is benefiting from the lowest unemployment rate [since May 2001] and the biggest growth in domestic investment in the last 13 years," Lee added.
The most buoyant outlook is being reported by the finance, insurance and real estate sectors at 44 percent, which Lee said was largely due to a rising number of mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector, as well as soaring growth in consumer financial products.
Trailing them are the manufacturing and service sectors with a net employment outlook at 36 percent; the mining, construction, wholesale and retail sectors at 31 percent; and the transportation and utilities sectors reporting the lowest level at 30 percent.
Speaking at the press conference, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Joanna Lei (
Lei suggested that the survey be conducted over the long term because the figures could shed light on how the new pension system and China policy affect the job outlook.
Offering tips to those wanting to join the competitive financial industry, Amy Han (韓愛玫), senior vice president for human resources at SinoPac Holdings (建華金控), said job seekers must be equipped with professional ability and flexibility to cope with banking mergers and acquisitions as well as political and economic change.
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