Taiwan's Average Regular Monthly Pay Shows 4-Year High Rise of 4.11% in H1, 2014

Due to improving business climate, Taiwan's employees received higher salaries in the first half (H1) of this year, with monthly salary, overtime pay, reward, and bonus  posting annual growth of 4.11% in H1, the highest four-year growth, according to Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

But the annual growth of average regular monthly pay would grow only 2.86% to NT$48,622 (US$1,620.7) if excluding inflation of 1.21% in the same period, lower than the corresponding NT$48,774 (US$1,625.8) of 1998.

Finance and insurance sectors witnessed the highest growth of 8.26% in basic pay in H1, followed by 7.96% in real estate. Wholesale & retail, lodging and F&B, educational & training service all witnessed 6%-plus rise in basic pay, with  manufacturing recording a relatively lower growth of 2.62%.

Of the manufacturing industry, rubber products, textile, and electronic parts all saw 7%-plus rise in basic pay while the corresponding percentages of chemicals, leather products, plastic products, computer & electric products all stood at around 5%.

In June Taiwan's employed population reached 7.25 million persons, of which 2.68 million persons worked in manufacturing, accounting for 37% of the total with the percentage being lower than 1991's 49% and 2001's 41%.

Average Monthly Pay in Taiwan in H1,  1997,1998, 2011, 2013 & 2014                     Unit: NT$
	Nominal monthly pay	Real monthly pay
1997	41,225	47,567
1998	42,965	48,774
2011	48,851	49.087
2013	48,355	47,268
2014	50,343	48,622

Source: DGBAS