Labor market in Taiwan
Taiwan has the lowest birth rate in the entire world, and as such is well on its way to becoming a Super Aged society, as well as a country with a rapidly declining population. Statistics show that Taiwan's overall population could fall by as much as a third by the end of the current century if current trends persist. As such, Taiwan is a country with a significant (and potentially increasing) labor shortage.
Response to labor shortages in Taiwan
In 2022, labor shortages in Taiwan were predicted in the 400,000 range, owing to the decline in the nation's working-age population. In response, Taiwan has enacted labor schemes such as the Taiwan Gold Card, a work visa of between one and three years validity aimed at highly-skilled foreign professionals, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads, enticing them to set up a business in Taiwan and work independently rather than for any specific local or international business, company, or corporation.
It remains to be seen how effective the Taiwan Gold Card scheme will be in terms of attracting and retaining foreign talent long term, but it at least shows that Taiwan is mindful of the need to shore up its workforce (and thus the tax base) in the immediate future.
Prominent sectors for foreign professionals in Taiwan
The youth and adult education sector
The most readily available jobs in Tawan for most overseas applicants are in the ESL industry, wherein work is pretty much always available in cram schools, elementary schools, junior and high schools, and to a lesser extent, in Taiwan's post-secondary institutions. Cram schools, in particular, are in greater and greater competition with one another as the number of available school-age students declines. The cram school market pivots in favor of adult education. Universities, too, are struggling to attract enough students, with some being forced to shutter entirely due to a lack of applicants.
Still, for those looking for quick and ready employment, the ESL industry is the place to start. It is notable, however, that as is the case with overall wages in Taiwan, the hourly rate of pay for teaching English has remained largely unchanged for much of the past two decades, with starting wages usually in the NT$600 to NT$650 per hour range, though teachers with high levels of experience and/or credentials such as a Master's Degree or Ph.D. can command higher.
ESL-adjacent Jobs
There are also jobs available in the education sector which don't involve teaching or lecturing. There are several publishing companies in Taiwan, mostly located in Taipei, which specialize in producing teaching materials for schools and cram schools, such as textbooks and English-language magazines. These publications require native-speaker writers and editors. To obtain such a position, one is required either to provide proof of two years of working experience in a related field such as editing, journalism, or some such equivalent or proof of obtaining a graduate degree. When worked out to an hourly average, these jobs—generally nine-to-five affairs—actually pay less than teaching. However, with consistent hours, the salary is usually equivalent to what one might earn when teaching more or less full-time. The main players in this scene are companies such as American Magazine Center, Ivy League English, and Let's Talk In English. During the pandemic, many of these companies also branched out into online teaching and require staff to teach students virtually from home.
Tech writing and editing
Taiwan is home to a thriving tech sector, with the majority of the world's semiconductors made here, in addition to many other products. The district of Neihu, in Taipei, is particularly rife with tech concerns, operating out of glittering, relatively new office buildings.
Most, if not all, of these companies, operate internationally and thus produce manuals, marketing materials, and pamphlets in English, in addition to other languages. As such, they require staff who are native speakers to write and edit these materials to meet international standards.
These jobs also require applicants to provide proof of two years of experience in a related field or a graduate degree. Once again, salaries are generally, on an hourly rate, lower than that of teaching. But, once again, the monthly salary is approximately equivalent to what one would earn teaching full-time. However, hours can be longer when deadlines are approaching, and the office culture in Taiwan dictates that one does not leave the office before their superiors and stays until the work is done. It is worth noting that although labor laws in Taiwan now stipulate that overtime wages must be paid, this is not adhered to across the board.
Engineering jobs
Various tech companies in Taiwan are also in need of engineers and do hire some from overseas, specializing in areas wherein there aren't enough local hires available. These jobs are usually centered in major cities, specifically Taipei, or in areas with science parks—designated clusters of tech companies—such as in Hsinchu. It is often more advantageous to be hired first while still overseas than to arrive and seek employment on the ground. The reason is that if you are hired from overseas, an expatriate package is offered, including flight and housing allowances, etc. On the contrary, if one is already present in Taiwan, one is hired more as a local hire, and those perks are generally not offered. Proof of working experience and/or a graduate degree is also required to obtain these sorts of positions.
The legal profession
There are a handful of law firms in Taiwan, mostly centered in Taipei, which specialize in international law and thus require some foreign staff. Firms such as Eiger Law, for example, hire barristers, legal aides, and so forth from overseas. For a full list of requirements to be hired and work as a lawyer in Taiwan, it is best to consult with the hiring firm.
Journalism jobs
There are a handful of English-language news publications in Taiwan, both private and state-run, which require reporters, editors, and copy editors on staff who have native-level speaking and writing levels in English. The Taipei Times and China Post (now online only) are the two main English-language news publications of note, but there are also Taiwan News and the CNA wire service, a branch of Taiwan's Ministry of Information. A more recent addition is Taiwan Plus, a news service funded by the Taiwan government which focuses on video reports on all things Taiwan. Getting hired as editorial or reporting staff and any of these outfits again requires proof of work experience and/or a graduate degree in a related field of study.
Self-employment in Taiwan
It is possible to be self-employed in Taiwan, either by obtaining an Employment Gold Card via proof of exceptional skill and/or achievement in a particular field (proven by awards won or other accolades, educational achievements, and work experience), or by simply starting one's own business in Taiwan. The barrier to entry for starting up a company in Taiwan is fairly low. There is no minimum capital, for example. However, the process of getting all the requisite paperwork filed, and in particular the banking procedures involved, can be cumbersome and, at times, frustrating. One common practice is registering a company overseas, such as in Hong Kong, and opening up a representative office in Taiwan, which the foreigner would then hire themselves to run. If one plans to settle long-term in Taiwan, the long view approach is to maintain a work visa for five consecutive years. Once this time has elapsed, one can apply for an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate and then the open work permit, which allows one to engage in any work one chooses without their residency being tied to a single employer.
The most important asset in getting this all done correctly is an accountant specifically skilled in helping foreigners get businesses up and running in Taiwan. An excellent resource is an online community known as Taiwan Impact Entrepreneurs, which provides both advice and services from vetted professionals who can assist foreigners in starting businesses in Taiwan. For more information and a full accounting of what needs to be done to become self-employed in Taiwan, see also our guide to Finding work in Taiwan.
