Taipei, September 13th (CNA) Taiwan's healthcare and life sciences industry has continued to provide strong employment outlook for the fourth quarter of this year, a lingering talent shortage, according to a latest survey by human resources advisory firm Manpowergroup.
Seasonally adjusted, Taiwan's overall net recruitment outlook index for October to December was 16%, down from 19% in the last quarter, but has not changed since the same period last year.
The ManPowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS), which reflects employers' employment trust, calculates the net employment index by subtracting the percentage of employers predicting a decline in the size of the workforce from the percentage that expects an increase.
The survey found that 38% of the 630 employers voted in Taiwan said they were expected to hire more people in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, 21% expected a decline in employment, while 38% said their employment plans remain unchanged.
This was converted to a third-quarter net employment outlook index of 17% before seasonal and 16% seasonal adjusted, according to ManPowerGroup.
The healthcare and life sciences industry reported the most powerful recruitment outlook among Taiwan's major industries, with a net employment score of 46%, up 10% points from a quarter. ManPowerGroup said the industry is facing a serious shortage of nurses and doctors for ER and critical care, and has urged hospitals to raise compensation to keep talented.
Additionally, biotech companies are hoping to develop new therapies, such as cell therapy, gene therapy and precision therapy, increasing the demand for experts.
The net employment outlook for the finance, insurance and real estate industries improved to 40%, up 16% from the third quarter as the government pushed its Wealth Management 2.0 program in the fourth quarter, sparking a new round of recruitment campaign by financial companies.
Meanwhile, the information technology industry, which includes technology service providers and semiconductor suppliers, saw its net employment score fall to 3% in the fourth quarter, falling 22 percentage points from the third quarter, and its recruitment outlook plunged.
ManPowerGroup said it reflects the weaknesses to the uncertainty created by US tariff policies as many companies are cautious about international trade, but said artificial intelligence development will help mitigate the impact of tariffs as AI-related companies that some multinationals are willing to expand Taiwan's capabilities.
Of the seven economies in the Asia-Pacific personnel group survey, India had the highest net employment outlook in 40% in the fourth quarter.
Of the 42 economies surveyed around the world, ManPowerGroup said a total of 20 reported expected increases in recruitment in the fourth quarter, while 26, according to the survey, showed that they would cut jobs.
