Working in Taipei
Under the auspices of the "Taiwan Miracle", a period of time when the country experienced one of the most rapid rises in economic growth in all of Asia, foreign investment substantially increased and with it came powerful job opportunities for expats. Its capitalist approach was both appealing and familiar to many multinational companies, especially those in the electronics sector.As of late, the strenuous pace of the economy has slightly slowed, and many manufacturing facilities formerly located in the country have moved to China and Vietnam.
That being said, many companies still base their management, finance and design/marketing branches in Taipei.
Overall, the city has a low rate of unemployment, and for this reason most expats solidify a job before they relocate. Job opportunities for foreigners, while still possible, are becoming less in number than in the "Miracle" years. What's more, many positions formerly occupied by expats have been forsaken for qualified locals that will accept lower salaries.
If interested in working in Taipei expats should make themselves appear as valuable, both in terms of experience and qualifications, as possible and should try their best to develop a grasp of Mandarin.
Business culture in Taipei can often be intimidating and difficult for expats to get their head around at first; it is even recommended to invest in some cross-cultural training upon arrival.
The labour force in the city is hard-working, though the Taiwanese generally work fewer hours than their mainland Chinese counterparts.
Alternatively, there is a large demand for those interested in teaching English, and both large organisations and individual schools are constantly hiring foreigners to impart their "Ps" and "Qs" on locals and work to develop a more equipped labour force for the future.
Expats will need a work permit to legally hold a job in Taiwan, a process that must be started by an employer applying with the Council of Labour Affairs.
