The continued emigration of Taiwanese professionals will add to an existing skills shortage in the local recruitment market this year, according to hiring managers surveyed for the 2013 Michael Page Salary & Employment Forecast for Taiwan.

The report, produced in association with the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, finds that 69% of employers think their staff will likely look for work abroad during 2013.

While Hong Kong and Singapore remain popular locations, most survey respondents (67%) identify China as the preferred destination for departing Taiwanese professionals. 

Overall, 58% of survey respondents report that they are expecting a skills shortage over the next 12 months. The shortage of professional talent across all sectors and at all levels will present challenges for employers, particularly if economic conditions start to improve during 2013. Some 55% of surveyed employers indicate the skills shortage will result in the development of more targeted attraction strategies to attract and retain staff. 

Chris Preston, director of Michael Page in Taiwan, says: “Given salary levels in Taiwan are on average lower than some other Asian countries, a general rise in remuneration offered by employers in Taiwan over 2013 would assist with talent attraction and retention. It may even go some way towards encouraging local professionals to stay in Taiwan and expats to return home.”