As Big Tech lays off staff, TSMC swoops in to hire 6,000

TSMC is capitalizing on the recent trend for tech layoffs, which have left thousands of engineers out of work. The company says it plans to recruit as many as 6,000 engineers — a roughly 10 percent increase in headcount — to keep the wafers flowing. First reported by Reuters, TSMC isn't just looking for expensive talent, but …

[elsergiovolador]

Cost of leaving

This argument about "cost of living" is stupid. Sure you may find tomatoes being cheaper in Taiwan, but anything else that uses global supply chains not so much.

Also if you thought of going on a bender to Cancun, a flight from Taiwan will cost you 2-3 times more than your friend from SF or London.

Cost of living argument is sound, if you don't want to leave the place and basically do work, pub, sleep activity until you die.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Cost of leaving

Although presumably flights to Koh Samui are cheaper than from Basingstoke ?

[Lars]

Re: Cost of leaving

""cost of living" is stupid.".

Why would that be stupid if the cost of living is much lower, say regarding housing, healthcare, food and enterteinment and perhaps childcare for some, taxation, transportation and so forth.

And again if it's higher then it's still not stupid.

[elsergiovolador]

Re: Cost of leaving

Rent seems to be similar to UK (outside London). I tried a bit of Googling and I could only find apartments to rent, so if you want something more natural with a bit of a garden maybe you are out of luck.

[llaryllama]

Re: Cost of leaving

TSMC is mostly based in Hsinchu, north Taiwan.

Lots of people commute from Taipei where a city apartment would cost you anything from around GBP400/month to GBP2k+ if you insisted on some kind of luxury serviced apartment).

Just outside Taipei or further south in Taichung or Kaohsiung you can get a large house in the mountains for around GBP500/month or basic apartment for half that. High speed rail takes about 30 minutes from Taichung into Hsinchu and costs around GBP15. Electric and gas are very cheap.

NT$2m/year would allow you to budget $100k/month for a very swanky lifestyle living in a nice apartment and eating out every day with cheap trips to SE Asia, Japan etc. if that's your thing. It's not even close to London cost of living.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Cost of leaving

WTF Would you fly to Cancun for a holiday if you live in AsiaPac!?

[elsergiovolador]

Re: Cost of leaving

So you don't get beheaded for having a spliff...

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Cost of leaving

"So you don't get beheaded for having a spliff."

Just so long as you don't get kidnapped or mugged in Mexico, which is more likely than your imaginary spliff decapitation, Hmm?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Cost of leaving

Mexico too dangerous for spring break, Texas officials say

[llaryllama]

Re: Cost of leaving

As someone who lived in both the UK and Taiwan you can definitely live better on NT$2m in Taiwan than double or triple this salary in the UK after tax. Taiwan's healthcare is also way better than the NHS and there is almost zero crime.

[SnOOpy168]

Re: Cost of leaving

There are Costcos there with affordable bulk items. Local meal prices have gone up a bit over the years but are still a steal as compared to the west. So how costly can it be ?

I would love to work out of Taiwan if there is an opportunity.

[EricB123]

Re: Cost of leaving

I've lived in 3 SE Asian countries. Housing is maybe 1/2 the cost of an average USA city, medical care is a small fraction of the unbelievably expensive care in USA. Tech gear actually costs MORE than in USA. But overall, I have found the cost of living to be significantly lower, yes.

[doublelayer]

Re: Cost of leaving

"Also if you thought of going on a bender to Cancun, a flight from Taiwan will cost you 2-3 times more than your friend from SF or London."

Well, if you want to go on holiday to a tropical location and you live in London or San Francisco, you will have to go somewhere else. If you live in Taiwan, you have to drive down from the mountains if you happen to be in them because you're already in a tropical place. Also, does it surprise you that flying to a specific place is more expensive from places that are far from that place? Should I praise Taiwan by saying that it's much cheaper and faster to fly from there to Australia than it would be from the UK, or were you already aware that the halfway-around-the-world principle got you there.

If you live in Taiwan, you'll have different typical holiday locations than if you live in North America or Europe. You always have the choice to go to a much farther destination if you want, but there's a reason it's easier for Europeans to take a holiday in the Mediterranean than for Americans, because it's a lot closer to them. Living in Taiwan opens up the convenient holiday destinations in Asia, and makes those in the Americas, Europe, and Africa more expensive. This ends our geography lesson for today.

[PhilipN]

Taiwan will still be there

As will TSMC.

Unless of course Uncle Sam is successful in onshoring TSMC's entire business. Stop sniggering at the back!

[GloriousVictoryForThePeople]

Man, how stupid are those Taiwanese!

Suckers staffing up when western tech geniuses are shedding dead wood

[Lil Endian]

Coming Soon (TM)

News Today: The US today imposed crippling tax requirements on US citizens working for any company on a New List Of Nasty Companies. "This is to protect National Security and to support our domestic infrastructure." a faceless government source reported. Those working for companies on The List will be required to pay tax of Crazy% to Uncle Sam, regardless of any other requirements.