Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Faces 34,000 Worker Shortage
Taiwan's semiconductor sector reports a shortage of 34,000 workers driven by rapid expansion into AI chips and a declining newborn population.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute and 104 job bank report that Taiwan's semiconductor industry faced a labor shortage of 34,000 workers as of May 2025. This structural talent gap is driven by the industry's expansion into advanced processes and advanced packaging production lines, coinciding with a 20 percent decline in Taiwan's newborn population since 2010.
Demand is highest in production, quality control, environmental safety, research and development, and operations support. Job openings for operations and technical support grew 67 percent between October 2023 and May 2025, though these roles remain difficult to fill due to shift-work requirements.
Jeff Lin of the Industrial Technology Research Institute noted that the integrated circuit industry's output value tripled between 2010 and 2024. Despite the labor shortage, Taiwan continues to dominate the global market, producing 83 percent of the world's AI chips and controlling 68.8 percent of the global foundry market.
