TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) disclosed at a forum hosted by the Ministry of Environment Taiwan's environmental agency (MOEN, 環境部) on Friday (July 4) that Taiwan confronts a significant gap between supply and demand for green-collar workers. Businesses in Taiwan remain undeterred despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and mounting tariff pressures. The government plans to accelerate talent cultivation to address this critical workforce shortage.
The Ministry of Environment collaborated with 104 Job Bank (104人力銀行) to organize the forum, underscoring the critical importance of green-collar workers in Taiwan's environmental transition. Peng revealed that since last year, the ministry has forged partnerships with 32 universities to offer specialized training courses, targeting the cultivation of approximately 1,000 individuals annually. The demand for these skilled professionals currently far exceeds the available supply.
The ministry released a comprehensive report in the first half of 2025 revealing an average monthly demand from 4,017 companies seeking green-collar talent from January to April, representing a 10% increase from the same period in 2024. The report indicates that approximately 17,000 green-collar jobs are concentrated across six major industries, with electronics, information technology, software, and semiconductors commanding 22% of positions, the highest share among all sectors.
Peng announced ambitious plans to expand specialized courses covering carbon capture, carbon storage, and carbon trading through enhanced collaboration with the 32 universities and relevant government departments. He estimated that Taiwan could cultivate 2,400 green-collar workers this year, with future projections exceeding 3,500 annually to meet the ever-growing market demand for environmental expertise. ◼