Net Increase in Employment in The First Quarter of 2013 in Taiwan Will Decrease 45%

Taipei, Dec.6, 2012 (CENS)--A survey conducted by the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) shows that net increase in employment in the first quarter of 2013 in Taiwan will decrease 45% year on year (YoY) or 26,000 workers, a new three-year low.

W.Y., Cheng, a CLA official stated that due to better-than-expected economic growth in the U.S., significant rebound in exports to China, revitalization policies for Taiwan's stock market proposed by the Cabinet, manpower demand in the first quarter of 2013 is expected to grow positively.

However, despite the Chinese New Year in the first quarter of 2013, employment growths in the retail, F&B, and hotel segments are estimated to drop 41% and 75% YoY, respectively, showing pessimism of local firms. Employment growth of Taiwan's service industry in the said period is estimated to drop by 16,000 workers.

Due to weak export, net employment growth in Taiwan's manufacturing industry is predicted to shrink 2,981 workers quarter on quarter and 4,365 workers YoY.

The result of the survey shows net growth in employment in the first quarter of next year to be only 26,124 workers, down 10,000 quarter on quarter and 22,088 YoY, almost the lowest since the financial tsunami in 2008.

Only 18.77% of respondents plan to recruit in the end of January 2013, with 67.13% planning to maintain current staff, 5.71% to downsize staff.

The largest net growth in employment is predicted to be technicians and assistants, trailing service people and sales associates at 13,000 and 7,300 workers, respectively.