TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The latest salary survey of the Taiwan job market emphasized the pressing challenge of talent shortages, as 71% of employers report difficulties in filling key positions, particularly at the manager and senior manager levels.
In cooperation with the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, talent solutions firm Robert Walters released the Salary Survey 2025 to reveal the latest trends and insights of the Taiwan job market.
It noted that the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research projected a modest GDP growth of 3.15% this year, amid economic uncertainty fueled by geopolitical tensions, which will impact Taiwan’s domestic job market.
Efficiency amid uncertainty
According to Robert Walters, Taiwan employers are prioritizing efficiency and cost-controlling strategies this year. Companies have increasingly chosen to reallocate internal talent over conducting external hiring.
Organizational structures are becoming flatter, and some operational roles have shifted to regional hubs or have been outsourced, the report said. Only 35% of professionals in Taiwan express confidence in the job market, and 46% of professionals plan to explore new employment opportunities within the next six months.
However, the demand for senior and strategic roles is strong. Job movers with in-demand skills could see a 15-20% salary increase. According to Robert Walters, this underscores the importance of “niche expertise” and “leadership capabilities” to drive growth.
Talent shortages
The report underlined Taiwan’s ongoing challenge of talent shortages, as 71% of employers reported difficulty filling key positions. It said 52% of surveyed employers plan to increase their headcount this year, while 49% found manager and senior manager positions to be the most challenging to fill.
The top three obstacles in recruiting staff are a “lack of applications/supply of candidates” (62%), “high salary and benefit expectations” (51%), and “intense competition for candidates” (51%). The report added that cross-industry movements are rising, as well as a demand for candidates returning from overseas.
About 92% of employers said they plan to face the challenges through learning and development programs, expanding entry criteria, and engaging specialists to create new hiring strategies.
Robert Walters Taiwan Manager John Winter acknowledged that it is taking longer for employers to fill roles. Winter said that to attract top talent, “organizations need to ‘sell’ their benefits, flexibility arrangements, career development, and support framework to prospective candidates and current employees alike."
AI fuels tech talent demand
The most sought-after talent in Taiwan remains backend engineers with expertise in large system design, AI engineers, and cybersecurity specialists, the report said. Sustainability experts are also needed, as corporations place ESG into their business strategies.
However, the shortage of qualified professionals poses a risk for the sector, as AI demand drives up talent demand. Engineers with the right skill sets have bargaining power in salary negotiations, and job movers could see salary increments of up to 20%.
According to Robert Walters, job security is paramount this year. Professionals are opting for established corporations over startups, which struggled more with performance, layoffs, and closures. Young people also attach greater importance to work-life balance.
Hiring demands
Almost 90% of surveyed employers plan to increase employee salaries this year, in line with inflation. Most will see increases between 1-5%, while job movers with in-demand skills could receive 5-20% pay increments.
Benefits that professionals prioritize are bonus schemes, flexible and remote working hours, and extended holiday entitlement. For aspects professionals value most in an employer, they prioritize excellent compensation and benefits, followed by inspiring colleagues and culture, and lastly, challenging and interesting work.
