Over 100,000 tech workers needed in the next three years

May 14, 2007

A workforce of over 100,000 people will be needed in Taiwan's high-tech sector over the next three years, according to a report released by the Industrial Research and Technology Institute (ITRI), the Institute for the Information Industry (III) and the Development Center for Biotechnology.

The 2007-2009 Industry Personnel Supply Survey Report, released in late March, said that in the next three years, there will be demand for up to 106,000 workers in the semiconductor, imaging industry, digital content, biotechnology, IT, and IT services industries.

There will be 49,000 jobs available in the next three years, after accounting for the available workforce produced by Taiwan's education system. Workforce demand will be strongest at the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP), as companies expand departments and production lines.

There will be 35,000 job openings in the semiconductor industry, of which demand will be highest for engineers specializing in IC design, manufacturing and equipment, according to projections by the reports' authors.

According to the survey, semiconductor companies at the STSP will undergo the largest expansion phase and will show the highest demand for fresh manpower. The Hsinchu Science Park has nearly reached capacity, and will only require experienced workers to fill in vacancies.

The rise of the image display industry, particularly in applications for mobile phones and digital cameras, has brought about new competition within the high-tech sector, as image display companies seeks to lure workers from the semiconductor manufacturing field. The report has projected demand for up to 17,000 workers in this field within the next three years.

Workforce demand will be highest for engineers in flat panel display manufacturing, with preference given to masters degrees or PhD holders from national universities. Merely having experience in the components industry will not necessarily guarantee future work at flat panel display companies, said the report. Hirees in the field will mainly be those who hold at least a bachelor's degree. The flat panel industry will require 70% of its new workforce to have previous experience, while the components industry will require 75%, affirming that manufacturers are generally more welcoming of experienced workers.

As production processes in the IT industry have become more automated in recent years, the need for a manufacturing workforce is shrinking as companies move their production lines to mainland China and Southeast Asia to reduce costs. The report projects that 6,200 manufacturing workers will be needed in the next three years, which is insufficient to accommodate the 14,300 available workers.

(United Daily News)

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