A majority of Taiwanese employers plan to raise their headcount this year, while 33 percent are looking to maintain current levels, suggesting a steady recovery in the job market, a Robert Waters Taiwan survey showed yesterday.
A total of 52 percent of local firms aim to expand their payroll, but a striking 71 percent report difficulties in filling positions, particularly at manager and senior manager levels, the survey showed, as talent shortage remains a pressing concern.
“It is taking a much longer time to fill key roles,” Robert Walters Taiwan country manager John Winter said.
Photo courtesy of European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan
Organizations need to “sell” their benefits, flexibility arrangements, career development and support framework to prospective candidates and current employees to attract and retain talent, he said.
The top three challenges in sourcing staff are a lack of applications and supply of candidates, high salary and benefit expectations, and intense competition for candidates, the survey found.
Taiwan is set to maintain its global leadership in the technology sector, driven by groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, it said.
These innovations are reshaping the information technology landscape and creating a surge in demand for skilled professionals, it said.
Engineers with expertise in large-system design, AI engineers and cybersecurity specialists remain among the most sought-after talent, Robert Walters said, adding that job movers with in-demand skills are eyeing salary increases of up to 20 percent.
The talent solutions firm also observed a broader shift in workforce priorities where job security has become paramount amid global economic uncertainties and the rapid evolution of technology.
That explained why Taiwanese professionals increasingly favor established corporations over risk-prone start-ups as they assign more importance to work-life balance, it said.
Taiwan’s technology sector also faces mounting environmental challenges, particularly in water scarcity, which threatens its supply chain, it said.
Industry leaders are investing in water recycling and conservation technologies to safeguard production and mitigate risks, it added.
By contrast, 91 percent of employers in the commerce sector plan to offer salary increases this year of between 1 and 5 percent, according to the survey.
Only 32 percent of non-tech professionals expressed optimism about job opportunities in their field, lower than the national average, the survey showed.
At the same time, Taiwanese organizations are prioritizing efficiency and cost controls, and adopting a cautious approach in talent management, as firms opt to reallocate internal talent over engaging in external hiring, Robert Walters said.
Consequently, organizational structures are growing flatter and operational roles are often shifted to regional hubs or outsourced, it said.
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