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Most Taiwan's Employers Prefer Grads with Relevant Internship Training

2014/09/05 | By Judy Li

Most of Taiwan's employers are willing to offer higher salaries to new graduates according to a survey by Manpower Group (Taiwan), a workforce solution & consulting firm.

Manpower surveyed 1,000 employers in Taiwan in July 2014 to learn about job opportunities and starting salaries for fresh college and university graduates. Of the polled, 75% plan to hire fresh graduates with average starting monthly salary higher than the frequently media-cited  NT$22,000 (US$733.33) to over NT$25,000 (US$833.33), with  20% willing to pay more than NT$30,000 (US$1,000).

The survey indicates that over half of employers polled offer starting salaries ranging NT$25,000-30,000 (US$833-1,000); 18% to give between NT$30,000-35,000 (US$1,000-1,166.7); and 15%  below NT$25,000 (US$833).

According to the survey, 62% of employers on the island are willing to pay higher starting salary to fresh university graduates that have done internship programs in relevant industries. In addition, industry-specific qualifications or certifications and proficiency in foreign languages also greatly enhance desirability of first-time job-seekers asking for higher pay.

The survey results show that employers in manufacturing, services, transportation & utilities, and wholesale & retail sectors value internship the most among other qualifications; those in finance, insurance and real estate, mining & construction sectors put more emphasis on whether applicants have acquired relevant qualifications or certifications.

As the economy continues to recover, companies are recruiting more people. "We're seeing an easier job market for university graduates this year," says Joan Yeh, operations director of Manpower Group Taiwan.

However, Manpower Group's 2014 personnel shortage survey shows that 45% of Taiwanese employers have difficulty filling jobs, largely due to lack of qualified applicants or no applicants at all.

Usually employers tend to hire employees with good learning attitude and prefer not to hire those lacking industry-specific knowledge and experience. For instance, the IT sector looks for entry-level technicians and e-commerce talents, with entry-level technicians and engineers being highly sought-after in the mining and construction sector. (JL)