•Publication Date：03/24/2015
•Source： Taiwan Today
Taiwan’s economic growth rate of 3.7 percent was the highest among the Asian tigers last year, according to the National Development Council March 23.
The strong showing put the country back at the head of the group of four successful economies for the first time since 2000. South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong recorded rates of 3.3 percent, 2.9 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.
“Taiwan’s economy has been on a steady growth track for the past three years, a trend reflected by highly competitive results in a variety of key indicators,” an NDC official said.
Of the tigers, Taiwan boasts the most equitable household and individual income distribution, as well as the lowest average inflation rates for 2000 to 2014. Real wages also saw substantial advances last year, notching up a 2.4 percent increase on the strength of a resurgent local job market.
In addition, the latest International Monetary Fund survey estimated Taiwan’s gross domestic product per capita at US$43,600 in terms of purchasing power parity, trumping South Korea and those of other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development members like France, Japan and the U.K.
“Significant headway has been made on the employment front as well,” the official said, adding that the annual jobless rate dropped from a peak of 5.9 percent in 2009 to 4 percent last year.
“This momentum continued into the first quarter of 2015, with the February unemployment rate dipping further to 3.69 percent, the best monthly figure in 15 years.”
Data produced by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics confirmed that the number of jobless in Taiwan fell to 428,000, down 2,000 or 0.02 of a percentage point from January.
Continued improvement has also been made across demographic groups faced with tighter employment conditions, the data revealed, particularly among 15 to 24-year-olds and those holding tertiary qualifications.
