TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's unemployed population reached 404,000 in June, an increase of 8,000 from the previous month, according to data released Tuesday by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.
The unemployment rate for the month stood at 3.36%, up 0.06% from May, ending a two-month decline. Despite the increase, it remained the lowest June figure in 25 years, per CNA. The average unemployment rate for the first half of this year was 3.33%, down 0.03% compared to the same period last year.
The agency attributed the rise in unemployment to an increase in new graduates entering the job market in June, which led to 9,000 first-time job seekers. It predicted the unemployment rate would continue to rise slightly in July and August, emphasizing that this is a normal labor market trend.
Tan Wen-ling (譚文玲), deputy director of the DGBAS Census Department, said the unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 19 was 9.62%, while it was 11.71% for those aged 20 to 24 — groups that mostly consist of first-time job seekers. The rate for individuals aged 25 to 29 was 5.79%, and 3.41% for those aged 30 to 34.
The Ministry of Labor reported the number of workers on unpaid leave was 2,266 in April, 2,831 in May, and 2,878 in June. Tan suggested the increase may be partly linked to US tariff policies, which prompted some manufacturers to temporarily adjust their workforce.
The agency also reported the number of employed individuals in June was nearly 11.62 million, an increase of 6,000 from May. This included a rise of 3,000 in the services sector, 2,000 in the industrial sector, and 1,000 in agriculture. The average number of employed people in the first half of this year was 11.61 million, an increase of 32,000 compared to the same period last year.
Taiwan’s non-labor force population stood at 8.22 million in June. This figure decreased by 18,000 from May and by 24,000 compared to the same month last year. The largest group within this population was the elderly and individuals with disabilities, totaling 3.2 million, followed by 2.53 million homemakers, and 1.51 million students.
