TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – For the first time, there are more foreign professionals from Malaysia working in Taiwan than from Japan, reports said Saturday (May 4).

By the end of 2023, there were 49,000 foreign professionals employed in Taiwan, including about 8,000 from Malaysia and 6,000 from Japan, per CNA. Indonesia followed in third place with 5,000 professionals, and Vietnam was fourth.

Based on data from the Ministry of Labor, the 2023 total was an increase of 2,000 over the previous year. The gender ratio was 70% men to 30% women, with about half between the ages of 25 and 34.

One of the factors in the increase of foreign professionals in Taiwan was a range of new government programs mostly designed to encourage graduates to stay in the country and find work after their studies.

The number of foreign professionals working in the manufacturing sector numbered 28.3% of the total, while 13.8% worked in wholesale and retailing, and 11.6% in science and technology services. Taipei City counted 35.8% of the professionals, New Taipei City 11.5%, Taichung City 11.2%, and Taoyuan City 11%.