TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) on Monday (Jan. 13) reported that Taiwan currently has 256,000 people with disabilities as part of the labor force, with 18,000 unemployed, resulting in a 7.1% unemployment rate. In the "2024 Labor Status Survey of People with Disabilities" (113年身心障礙者勞動狀況調查統計結果), the MOL revealed that Taiwan's disabled population aged 15 and over reached 1.16 million last May.
The survey found that the majority of disabled workers are employed in the manufacturing sector, accounting for 22.5%. Many hold positions as basic technical and manual labor workers, as well as service and sales staff, each exceeding 20%. On average, these workers clock 37.4 hours weekly, earning a monthly income of NT$31,000.
Among disabled workers, 28.2% reported difficulties in employment or labor participation, with 13.9% citing unsuitable work hours or content as the primary challenge. For those not participating in the labor force, the leading reason was age, comprising 61%, while those with the ability and willingness to work did not seek employment mainly due to the lack of suitable job opportunities.
The MOL pledged to continue promoting employment measures and vocational rehabilitation services for the disabled, encouraging both public and private entities to hire individuals with disabilities and assist them in finding suitable employment.
