Taiwan's April Unemployment Rate Hits 3.3%, Lowest for the Month in 26 Years

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) announced today that Taiwan's unemployment rate for April was 3.3%, a decrease of 0.04 percentage points from the previous month, ending two consecutive months of increases. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.34%, down 0.01 percentage points. DGBAS officials explained that the post-Lunar New Year job-hopping wave is nearing its end, leading to a decline in unemployment, marking the lowest level for the month since 2001, a 26-year record. DGBAS statistics show that the number of unemployed in April was 397,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous month. Among them, those who left jobs due to dissatisfaction decreased by 4,000, and those whose seasonal or temporary jobs ended decreased by 2,000, while those unemployed due to business downsizing or closure increased by 1,000. Tan Wen-ling, Deputy Director of the Census Department, explained that voluntary resignations reflect the job-hopping trend, and the significant decline in April suggests that job-seekers are successfully finding new employment. Tan noted that historically, unemployment tends to fall in May but rises from June to August as graduates enter the job market. Regarding the impact of Middle East conflicts, Tan stated that no significant changes are currently visible, and the overall labor market remains stable at a 26-year low. By age group, the unemployment rate for 15-24 year-olds was 11.37%, 5.75% for 25-29 year-olds, and 3.32% for 30-34 year-olds.