Labor Force

At the first quarter of 2005, the employed population in Miaoli County was 232,000, decreasing 2,000 (0.85%) compared with previous quarter; decreasing 3,000 (1.28%) compared with the first quarter of 2004. Within the sectors, the sector with the most employees was industry sector, with 112,000 employees (48.28%); the second was service sector, 106,000 employees (45.69%); the third was agricultural, forestry, fishery and husbandry sector, 15,700 employees (6.47%).
At the first quarter of 2005, the civil population above 15 years of age in Miaoli County was 441,000. Among these people, the labor force population was 243,000 and the non-labor force population was 198,000. The labor force participation rate was 55.1%, decreasing 0.9% compared with previous quarter; decreasing 1.43% compared with the first quarter of 2004.

The unemployment rate:

At the first quarter of 2005, unemployed population in Miaoli County was 11,000. The unemployment rate was 4.5%, no changes compared with previous quarter; increasing 2.27% compared with the first quarter of 2004.

Manpower

In 2004, the labor force population of Miaoli County was 245,000. The labor participation rate was 55.60%. Among the population, employed population was 234,000, unemployed population was 11,000. The unemployment rate was 4.50%. There were 196,000 non-labor force population.

a. Employees’Occupation

In 2004, there were 20,000 (8.58%) first-order enterprise (agricultural, forestry, fishery and husbandry) employees, 106, 000 (45.49%) second-order enterprise (industry) employees, and 107,000 (45.49%) third-order enterprise (service) employees  in Miaoli County.

b.The employees’ job

In 2004, there were 5,000 representatives, officers, enterprise executives, managers; 13,000 specialists; 32,000 technicians and specialized assistants; 23,000 administrators; 36,000 service providers; 20,000 farmers and fish-men; 104,000 labors. Based on the numbers, technicians, assistants, administrators, service providers, labors accounted for 83.69% of the employed population. The fact suggests that there were sufficient labor supply, which makes great contribution to the prosperous of the society.

c.Employees’ education attainment

In 2004’s survey on employees’ education attainment, there were 2,000 (0.86%) self-educators and illiterates, decreasing 5,000 compared with the end of 1996. There were 54,000 (23.18%) with professional college, university, or higher educational attainment, increasing 22,000 compared with 1996. These data revealed that the illiterates in Miaoli County were decreasing and people received high education were increasing. In general, the education attainment of the employees in Miaoli County is increasing.(Graph 1)

Graph 1