TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The number of Taiwanese working overseas reached 621,000 in 2023, marking an increase of 148,000 people, over 30%, compared to the previous year, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS, 主計總處) reported on Thursday (Dec. 12).
The surge in employment, particularly the record-breaking 128,000 Taiwanese working in the U.S., directly correlates with TSMC's (台積電) global expansion, including plants in Arizona, U.S., and Kumamoto, Japan, which aligns with increased Taiwanese employment in both countries, said Census Department (主計總處國勢普查處) Deputy Director Tan Wen-ling (譚文玲).
The data shows a significant increase in Taiwanese working in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, with 40,000 more people, though the proportion has dropped from a peak of 62% in 2011 to 35%. Employment in Japan and South Korea rose by 28,000, nearly 70%, making it the fastest-growing region.
Over the past 15 years, overseas employment numbers fluctuated due to trade disputes, supply chain restructuring, and the pandemic, dropping to a low of 319,000 in 2021. As the pandemic's impact waned, the numbers rose again in 2022 and 2023, although they have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.