Half of Taiwan's workers expect raise and 1-3 month bonus

半數台灣員工期待加薪及1到3個月的獎金

Economic optimism drives workers to demand more compensation in 2025


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A survey by Cathay Financial Holdings found most Taiwanese expect year-end bonuses of one to three months.

Most respondents (50.2%) expect salary increases next year, with 42.3% expecting monthly salaries to rise by 3% and 7.9% expecting a rise greater than 3%. Survey data from Cathay Financial Holdings indicates workers are optimistic about their future employment prospects, per SETN.

Other Taiwan job market surveys show similar optimism. According to a 104 Job Bank (104人力銀行) survey, respondents expect a salary increase of 3.2% in 2024. The average year-end bonus to be distributed by companies on the job search website is 1.39 months, a 16-year high.

According to Bingo Yang (楊宗斌), spokesman for the online job bank for yes123.com, "Revenge travel (return of tourism post-COVID) has led to a recovery for the entire industry. In addition, a rebound in export orders has led to salaries trending higher compared with last year. As for salary increases, I think it may exceed 3% and potentially reach 5%.”

Taiwan’s airline industry also predicts year-end earnings to rise. According to online interviews and surveys, some employees at local airports will receive huge year-end bonuses of one to four months.

According to Chan Cheng-chi (詹成吉), chairman and spokesperson of the Taoyuan International Airport Industry Development Association, “The 14-month bonuses may only apply to employees for low-cost airlines as their profits exploded. As for the airport's other commercial services and retailers, they can expect bonuses of between one to four months.”

However, other Taiwanese industries are expected to see a shortage of workers in retail, technology, and manufacturing. Management will need to increase year-end bonuses and raise salaries to retain employees.