• 53% of respondents report that they have moved back to Taiwan to look for job opportunities within the last 12 months, with 47% reporting that they want to achieve better work-life balance.
  • 40% of employees are very likely to change jobs in the next 12 months, 25% are quite likely to move into a new role.
  • 50% of employees surveyed view the job market as competitive, a further 35% indicate that it is quite difficult.
  • 75% of employees are likely to consider overseas career opportunities.

14 October, 2014: Taiwan’s buoyant professional job market has boosted jobseeker optimism although a competitive job market and cautious employer sentiment persists. Findings from the 2014/15 Michael Page Taiwan Employee Intentions Report suggest Taiwan’s job market will continue to gain strength over the next 12 months.

The report findings, based on the online survey responses of employees in Taiwan, indicate confidence in Taiwan’s economy and employment market, with 53% of respondents indicating that they have moved back to Taiwan to look for job opportunities within the last 12 months. Half of respondents (50%) have returned from China and the majority of returnees (47%) cite the main reason for returning to Taiwan,China is to achieve a better work-life balance.

The growing stability and maturing of Taiwan’s job market and the positive employee sentiment is likely to translate into hiring activity, with almost half of survey respondents stating that they are very likely to change jobs in the next 12 months (40%) and a further 25% quite likely to move into a new role. Of the respondents who are very likely to change roles within the next 12 months, 86% of those professionals work within the retail sector, followed by IT professionals (80%) and sales (72%).

“It is encouraging to see workers returning to Taiwan, a strong indicator of the local market, and this is creating an increase of quality professionals within the local talent pool,” says Chris Preston, Regional Director of Michael Page in Taiwan.

However, despite the expected positive employment conditions in Taiwan, half of the employees surveyed for the report view the current job market as competitive (50%), with a further 35% reporting that it is quite difficult. Additionally, 75% of employees surveyed are likely to consider overseas career opportunities over the next 12 months.

“From the jobseeker perspective based on the survey results, there is a degree of competition when looking for a new role in Taiwan, despite the healthy employment market. Jobseekers should actively work with recruiters to secure their next role and not wait around for someone to call them as the market is starting to move very quickly,” says Preston.

The full report is available at the News & Research Centre