TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese workers overseas hit a pandemic-era high of 666,000 in 2024, up 45,000 from last year. Taiwan's statistics office released the data Wednesday (Nov. 19), crediting TSMC's strategic overseas investments. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (台積電, TSMC) global expansion drove the workforce growth.
TSMC's new Arizona and Kumamoto factories drove the overseas worker surge. The Arizona facility entered mass production last year alongside the Japan plant. Taiwanese workers in the U.S. reached a historic high of 137,000, representing 20.5% of overseas workforce, according to Taiwan's Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (主計總處).
China, Hong Kong, and Macau remain the top destination with 231,000 Taiwanese workers, representing 34.7%. This represents a proportional decline from pre-pandemic levels. Japan and South Korea attracted 80,000 workers (12.0%) due to aging populations and investment openness.
Southeast Asia accounts for 14.6% of Taiwanese workers abroad, showing geographic diversification. The data reveals dynamic shifts in workforce distribution as Taiwanese companies expand globally. These patterns highlight Taiwan's evolving overseas employment landscape. ◼