Taiwan Legislative Yuan report: ongoing talent outflow dampeningindustrial growth

台灣立法院報告：人才持續外流抑制工業成長

China was the topdestination forTaiwanese citizens working abroad in 2016, followed by Southeast Asian nations


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - A recentLegislative Yuan report shows a 10 percent increase in talent outflowfrom 2009 to 2016, sendinga disquieting signal to Taiwan government officials.

Approximately 728,000 Taiwanese citizens workedoverseas in 2016, the majority of which held bachelor degrees or higher, while only30,928foreign professionals workedin Taiwan thatsame year.

Among thoseworking abroad in 2016, China was the largest destination for outflow talent, accountingfor 55.9 percent of total Taiwanese abroad, though that figure has been declining in recent years. Southeast Asian nations ranked second, housing 15.2 percent ofTaiwanese professionals abroad.

The report said that the talent outflow could jeopardize Taiwan's economic competitiveness becausethe majority of them are highly skilled professionals and their absence could meanless people dedicated to helping companies innovate and createany competitive edge for local industries.

The increase of foreign professionals in Taiwan has been slowalthough the presence offoreign blue-collar workers has grown exponentially, from 365,060 in 2008 to 676,142 in 2016.

Taiwan is battling a brain drain as China rollsout a string of incentives to lure young Taiwanese talent and businessin recent years.

As the country's SMEsgrapple with atalent deficit, the reporturged the government to launch more talent incubation programsin line with industry development.