The pressure of labor shortage has hindered the development of the front-line chain and franchise industry. The Taiwan Chain and Franchise Association (TCFA) conducted a large-scale labor shortage survey in the chain and franchise industry. The results showed that 98.8% of companies are facing labor shortages, and more than half of the labor shortages have lasted for more than a year, which has become a business risk that affects the sustainability of enterprises. (Photo by reporter Yang Yamin)
[Reporter Yang Yamin/Taipei Report] The pressure of labor shortage has hindered the development of the front-line chain and franchise industry. The Taiwan Chain and Franchise Association (TCFA) conducted a large-scale labor shortage survey in the chain and franchise industry. The results showed that 98.8% of companies are facing labor shortage, and more than half of the labor shortages have lasted for more than a year, which has become a business risk affecting the sustainability of enterprises.
TCFA Taiwan Chain and Franchise Association stated that the common pressure faced by business operations in recent years is labor shortage. Companies have used various methods to recruit, educate and train, and retain talents, but the problem is still difficult to solve. The association will conduct a large-scale survey on corporate labor shortage issues from July to August, hoping to gain an in-depth understanding of labor shortage issues and industry dilemmas.
Please read on...
TCFA Taiwan Chain Store and Franchise Association held the "25th Distribution Operator Summit Forum-Chain New Game, Unbounded New Economy" today, and jointly released the "2026 Taiwan Chain Franchise Industry Labor Force and Job Shortage Current Situation Survey and Research" with the Digital Transformation Research Institute of the Information Strategy Council, looking forward to the cooperation between the public and private sectors to solve the difficulties.
The Taiwan Chain Store and Franchise Association stated that this survey showed that 98.8% of chain stores are facing labor shortages. 82.5% have a moderate degree of work shortage, 57% have been without work for more than a year, and more than 80% of companies said the situation has not improved compared with last year. Labor shortage has evolved from a recruitment difficulty to a business risk that affects the company's store expansion and growth.
As the demographic structure changes, the chain industry is the first to bear the brunt. The National Development Council's August 2026 population estimate points out that my country's working-age population aged 15 to 64 has continued to decline since its peak in 2015. Compared with the peak, it will decrease by 28% in 2035, 51% in 2055, and 74% in 2075.
Hong Yaling, secretary-general of the Taiwan Chain Store and Franchise Association, pointed out that the chain industry has the characteristics of multiple locations, long business hours and concentrated employment during peak hours. The shortage of manpower will affect multiple stores at the same time. When manpower shortages persist, companies not only face recruitment difficulties, but also face pressure from increased workloads and restricted operational arrangements for existing personnel.
The gap extends from the front line of the store to management and professional positions. The survey pointed out that there are widespread job shortages in basic-level positions such as store reception and cashiers; management positions such as store managers and store supervisors, as well as some professional and technical positions, also face recruitment difficulties. These positions involve store management, field services and professional operations. The impact of talent shortage on operations no longer depends solely on the number of people missing.
Grasp the economic pulse with one hand. Click here to subscribe to Free Finance Youtube Channel
