TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said Thursday (Aug. 29) the vacancy rate for the manufacturing and electronic components sectors was 2.88%, the highest since August 2022.

The DGBAS stated in a press release Thursday that emerging technologies like AI continue to rise, driving up labor demand in supply chains and pushing vacancy rates.

However, “job vacancies” refer to positions that companies have advertised externally but have not yet been filled, per CNA. This does not include positions that will not be filled, estimated vacancies, or internal transfers.

The agency explained during economic booms, companies tend to hire more, leading to a rise in vacancies. Conversely, during economic downturns, when they face tighter operations, the number of vacancies may decline.

As of the end of May, there were 242,000 vacancies in the industrial and service sectors, a decrease of 2,100 from the end of February. A DGBAS official said although the overall number of vacancies declined, they remain at a moderate level.