TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Environment said Tuesday that demand for green-collar workers is expected to continue rising, as government data showed rapid growth in environmentally focused jobs amid the nation’s push toward net-zero emissions.

The MOENV and local recruitment platform 104 Job Bank jointly released figures showing the number of green-collar workers in Taiwan has increased from just over 1,400 in 2018 to 4,157 in 2025, a 182% rise over eight years, per UDN.

The ministry said green-collar roles are critical to Taiwan’s industrial transformation and announced plans to launch inter-ministerial cooperation starting next year to introduce net-zero training courses more closely aligned with the practical needs of industry.

Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) said green-collar expertise will soon be required across all sectors and will become a “common language,” enabling Taiwan to connect with the international community. He said that as global supply chains impose stricter net-zero carbon requirements, industries including semiconductors, biomedicine, construction, finance, and retail are continuing to recruit green-collar talent.

Peng warned that these trends will lead to a shortage of qualified workers, stressing that green-collar work is not merely a job category but a core capability supporting corporate innovation, carbon reduction, AI integration, and sustainable governance.

From 2020 to 2024, the ministry said the added value of Taiwan’s green technology industry grew by nearly 55%, rising from NT$330.9 billion (US$10.5 billion) to NT$512.3 billion. Employment in related sectors also increased by more than 40%, with about 110,000 new jobs created over four years, with exports rising by 20%, underscoring the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s green technology products and services.

According to the report, the median monthly salary for publicly listed green-collar job openings stands at NT$40,000, about 5.3% higher than the overall median monthly salary of NT$38,000 across all public job listings.

The data also showed that 49.3% of green-collar positions are open to graduates of all academic majors, with most requiring less than one year of work experience. In response, the ministry said it has partnered with 32 universities to launch the Ministry of Environment’s Net-Zero Green-Collar Talent Training Program this year.

The program offers training courses supporting key industries, covering areas such as net-zero carbon reduction, green building, carbon capture and storage, resource recycling, energy conservation, climate adaptation, and net-zero green lifestyles.

Peng said the ministry will further roll out an inter-ministerial initiative dubbed “Green-Collar Talent Plus,” designed to align closely with policy priorities and industry practices. The program aims to help people from diverse backgrounds strengthen their skills and bridge the gap between education and employment.

Statistics from 104 Job Bank showed that job seekers who indicated they had obtained green-collar certification received an average of 5.4 times more interview invitations within a week than in the week before listing the credential.

Peng said green-collar work is not a career path reserved for a select few but an opportunity open to both young people and mid-career professionals. He added that green-collar roles represent not only a pathway to corporate sustainability and Taiwan’s net-zero goals, but also a source of long-term personal competitiveness as the country enters a critical phase of green development.