Employers in Taiwan are reviewing their retention strategies to put a strong emphasis on workplace flexibility. This is according to the 2016 Michael Page Greater China Salary & Employment Outlook report, presented in association with the ECCT, which was released today at an ECCT Premium Event Lunch. According to the report[1], 65% of surveyed employers in Taiwan say flexible working arrangements are now in place at their companies. This is good news for Taiwan's pool of talent, as it was revealed in the earlier 2016 Michael Page Employee Intentions Report[2], that 51% of employees surveyed wanted flexibility in their working hours and only 28% said it was a benefit that they were already receiving.

[1]Survey responses for the 2016 Michael Page Greater China Salary & Employment Outlook Report were collected in December 2015. Roundtables were completed in January 2016
[2] Survey responses for the 2016 Michael Page Employee Intentions Report were collected in September 2015.

"More employees are now valuing workplace flexibility and work-life balance, especially since the government implemented a universal 40-hour workweek[1] across the nation. In a bid to address these issues, we expect to see a continuous increase in employers focusing on workplace flexibility initiatives – the likes of working from home and flexi-hours – in their retention strategies," says Andrew Wright, Director of Michael Page Taiwan.

Based on results from the report, it is predicted that 2016 will see steady hiring activity across Taiwan's employment market, with 36% of employers surveyed employers in Taiwan indicating so.

The report revealed that 31% of employers surveyed cited sales and marketing functions as the hardest to replace, given the shortage of skilled talent in the market. With the digital sector remaining highly competitive, not only in Taiwan, but also globally, coming in second are information technology and digital roles at 29%. Professionals who have the right skills will be able to command higher salaries.

Other findings from the report include the following:
83% of Taiwanese employers expect to increase salaries by <5% in the next 12 months as compared with a Greater China average of 68%
81% of surveyed employers in Taiwan are expecting headcount to either remain the same or increase over the next 12 months
77% of employers in Taiwan expect a staff turnover of <10% in the coming year, compared to a regional average of 66%
34% of surveyed employers are concerned about local talent leaving Taiwan for overseas opportunities
29% of surveyed employers would consider hiring overseas workers in the next 12 months

About Michael Page and its Salary and Employment Outlook
As part of PageGroup, Michael Page is a leading professional recruitment consultancy specialising in the recruitment of permanent, contract and temporary positions on behalf of the world's top employers. The Group operates through 153 offices in 35 countries worldwide. First established in London in 1976, it has been bringing job seekers and employers together for more than 40 years. The group's presence in the Asia Pacific region extends across China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

The Michael Page Greater China Salary & Employment Outlook report is presented in association with the ECCT. It provides an outlook for the domestic recruitment market in 2016 across a full range of sectors such as retail, financial services and technology.

Based on the responses of over 1,000 employers across Greater China (Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan) and insights received from a series of roundtables held with employers across the region, the 2016 Greater China Salary & Employment Outlook provides in-depth insights into employment conditions, key employment skills in demand, sector trends and salary benchmarks.

About the ECCT
With over US$33 billion in direct foreign investments, European business remains the largest group of foreign investors in Taiwan. The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan is the only foreign nationwide business chamber in Taiwan and the principal organisation promoting European business interests in Taiwan. The chamber represents over 800 members from over 400 companies and organisations. Through a network of 30 industry and support committees, the ECCT has been successful in addressing specific concerns and providing concrete recommendations to all levels of government to facilitate improving the business environment. The ECCT annually publishes a series of position papers that comprise issues identified by its committees as hindering the further development of their respective industries and provide recommendations to the government of Taiwan for improvement of the business environment on general issues as well as industry-specific problems. They also serve to keep the European Commission and parliament as well as the governments of individual European Union member states informed about Taiwan's business environment.

[1] Source from Taipei Times ‘Labor regulations amended to cap 40-hour work week', The China Post ‘Two days off per week, maximum 40 working hours beginning 2016'