Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/23/2020
By: Su Ssu-yun, Chang Hsiung-feng and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, March 23 (CNA) Taiwan's jobless rate remained relatively stable in February despite the growing battle with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the month, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said Monday.

The nominal jobless rate in February rose 0.06 percentage points from a month earlier to 3.70 percent but the seasonally adjusted rate edged down 0.01 percentage points from a month earlier, also to 3.70 percent.

The DGBAS said in a statement that the COVID-19 outbreak that started in late January has started to hit the travel, hotel, and retail sectors hard and it is watching closely to see how the epidemic will affect the local job market over time.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) said Monday the number of new job openings in Taiwan's manufacturing sector increased by 35.38 percent in February from a month earlier.
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