AI Boom: Q1 Overtime Hours in Electronic Components Manufacturing Hit 47-Year High
Due to the strong and unexpected demand for AI, overtime hours in Taiwan's electronic components manufacturing and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing industries reached a 47-year high for the first quarter of this year, highlighting a significant disparity between AI-driven industries and traditional sectors.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 19:02
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 19:32 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 20:34 (1h 2m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei 11th) The strong and unexpected demand for AI has led to full order books for the two major industries directly benefiting: electronic components manufacturing and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing, with overtime hours frequently breaking records. Statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics show that in the first quarter of this year, overtime hours for electronic components manufacturing and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing both hit a new high for the same period in nearly 47 years since statistics began.
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics today released statistics on employed persons, showing that at the end of March, the total number of employed persons was 8.561 million, with an average total working time of 178.2 hours and an average overtime of 8.9 hours.
Among them, overtime hours are an important indicator for observing changes in economic conditions. When enterprises have full order books and must work overtime to cope, overtime hours usually rise; they fall when the economy reverses.
In recent years, the AI business opportunity has exploded, directly benefiting electronic components and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing, with overtime hours indicators repeatedly setting new highs.
Statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics show that in March, manufacturing overtime hours were 17.7 hours, the highest level for the same month in nearly 16 years. Among them, the electronic components industry reached 28.9 hours, setting a 47-year high for the same month since statistics began; the computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing industry was 16 hours, setting a 24-year high for the same month.
From January to March this year, overtime hours for electronic components and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing both reached the highest level since statistics began.
Tan Wen-ling, Deputy Director of the Census Department of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, bluntly stated that the high-tech industry has been 'very prosperous' in recent years, especially the AI industry. Not only have overtime hours set new records, but indicators such as wages and employed persons also show clues. However, a closer look at some indicators reveals divergent industry performance.
Looking at the number of employed persons, from January to March this year, electronic components and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing increased by 20,000 and 11,000 persons year-on-year, respectively. In contrast, the textile industry, plastic product manufacturing, basic metals, metal product manufacturing, and automobile and parts manufacturing industries all saw a year-on-year decrease in employed persons.
Regarding wage indicators, from January to March this year, the average regular monthly salary for employed persons was NT$48,706, but the proportion of employees below the average reached 69.95%, continuously setting new highs. This means that nearly 70% of employed persons' wages were below the average.
Tan Wen-ling admitted that this is related to uneven industry performance. The booming high-tech industry has raised wage levels and the average, but traditional industries are performing worse, affected by factors such as global oversupply and price competition, with no significant improvement in economic conditions. (Editor: Huang Kuo-lun) 1150511
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(Central News Agency reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei 11th) The strong and unexpected demand for AI has led to full order books for the two major industries directly benefiting: electronic components manufacturing and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing, with overtime hours frequently breaking records. Statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics show that in the first quarter of this year, overtime hours for electronic components manufacturing and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing both hit a new high for the same period in nearly 47 years since statistics began.
The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics today released statistics on employed persons, showing that at the end of March, the total number of employed persons was 8.561 million, with an average total working time of 178.2 hours and an average overtime of 8.9 hours.
Among them, overtime hours are an important indicator for observing changes in economic conditions. When enterprises have full order books and must work overtime to cope, overtime hours usually rise; they fall when the economy reverses.
In recent years, the AI business opportunity has exploded, directly benefiting electronic components and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing, with overtime hours indicators repeatedly setting new highs.
Statistics from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics show that in March, manufacturing overtime hours were 17.7 hours, the highest level for the same month in nearly 16 years. Among them, the electronic components industry reached 28.9 hours, setting a 47-year high for the same month since statistics began; the computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing industry was 16 hours, setting a 24-year high for the same month.
From January to March this year, overtime hours for electronic components and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing both reached the highest level since statistics began.
Tan Wen-ling, Deputy Director of the Census Department of the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, bluntly stated that the high-tech industry has been 'very prosperous' in recent years, especially the AI industry. Not only have overtime hours set new records, but indicators such as wages and employed persons also show clues. However, a closer look at some indicators reveals divergent industry performance.
Looking at the number of employed persons, from January to March this year, electronic components and computer, electronic, and optical product manufacturing increased by 20,000 and 11,000 persons year-on-year, respectively. In contrast, the textile industry, plastic product manufacturing, basic metals, metal product manufacturing, and automobile and parts manufacturing industries all saw a year-on-year decrease in employed persons.
Regarding wage indicators, from January to March this year, the average regular monthly salary for employed persons was NT$48,706, but the proportion of employees below the average reached 69.95%, continuously setting new highs. This means that nearly 70% of employed persons' wages were below the average.
Tan Wen-ling admitted that this is related to uneven industry performance. The booming high-tech industry has raised wage levels and the average, but traditional industries are performing worse, affected by factors such as global oversupply and price competition, with no significant improvement in economic conditions. (Editor: Huang Kuo-lun) 1150511
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.