Taiwanese workers eye full-time investing as stock market booms; companies boost hiring, wages

Taiwan's stock market surge to 40,000 points has fueled a widespread interest in investing among the workforce, according to a recent survey by yes123 Job Network. The "Horse Year Third Quarter Economic and Labor Market Trend Survey" reveals a generally optimistic economic outlook for the upcoming quarter, with both employers and employees anticipating improvement.

The survey highlights that a significant 85.2% of workers have participated in the stock market, with approximately 40% reporting profitable returns. This success has prompted a notable portion of these investors, specifically 33.6%, to contemplate leaving their jobs to pursue full-time stock trading. The survey also noted that 77.8% of investors admitted to monitoring stock market trends during work hours.

Despite the high desire among workers to change jobs, with 93.4% intending to do so in the third quarter, companies are actively planning to expand their workforce. Nearly 90% of businesses indicated hiring plans for the third quarter, driven by ongoing labor shortages, the need to fill vacant positions, and business expansion. Furthermore, over half of the companies surveyed plan to offer salary increases, with an average raise of 3.8%, and a significant number also intend to distribute bonuses or profit-sharing.

The average monthly salary offered by companies has also seen an increase, reaching NT$42,098 in the third quarter, a rise of over NT$1,400 compared to the previous year, marking a 13-year high for the same period. Yes123 spokesperson Yang Tsung-pin advised a disciplined approach to investing, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing investment and savings before expenses to achieve financial freedom.