TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The unemployment rate for Taiwanese youth aged 20 to 24 stood at 11.76% in 2023, the highest among all age groups, according to the Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor (勞動部發展署), highlighting the challenges young graduates face in their first job search.
Officials attributed the high unemployment rate to the transitional phase young people experience post-graduation. Huang Chiao-ting (黃巧婷) from the Workforce Development Agency explained that this age group is still learning and exploring, leading to higher turnover rates.
To address this issue, the agency launched the "Employment Stability Incentive Plan for First-Time Youth Job Seekers" (初次尋職青年穩定就業計畫) for 15 to 29-year-olds. This program offers services such as resume writing and mock interviews. It also provides job-seeking allowances and employment assistance incentives, with a maximum benefit of NT$45,000.
From July 2023 to July 2024, 28,992 individuals participated in the program, with 13,882 receiving the benefit. These figures suggest the program has successfully helped many young people find employment.
Lin Shu-yu (林書伃), a senior manager at 104 Job Bank (104人力銀行), noted that entry-level salaries for fresh graduates increased slightly from NT$35,000 in 2023 to NT$35,500 this year. Construction-related jobs offer the highest starting salaries, around NT$43,000.
The younger generation's job preferences are also shifting towards digital nomadism. Opportunities for digital nomad jobs, including roles in social media, engineering, digital marketing, and online tutoring, have grown fivefold in five years.
These trends indicate a changing work landscape for Taiwan's youth, who continue to prioritize salary and working hours.
