台灣積體電路製造公司（台積電）據稱面臨工程師「人才短缺」問題，儘管台灣人口教育程度高且教育體系高度重視STEM 領域。本研究旨在透過將台灣案例置於國際視角，並分析工資趨勢、招聘模式和培訓投入等勞動力市場數據，對這一說法提出質疑。分析題意，台積電所聲稱的人才短缺更多與市場波動和公司自身決策相關，而非工程師能力不足。工資停滯、性別差異和持續性學歷過剩等問題，更使得這一說法站不住腳。人才短缺問題的存在更可能是由更廣泛、更系統性的因素所導致，而非教育缺陷。本研究呼籲各界認識到人才短缺討論本質上是政治性的，唯有正確界定問題，才能以可持續方式降低其發生概率並應對後果。

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has been said to suffer from “talent shortages” among its engineers in Taiwan, despite the population’s high level of education and considerable emphasis on STEM fields in the education system. The study aims to challenge that claim by putting Taiwan’s case into the proper international perspective and by analysing labour market data such as wage trends, hiring patterns, and training investments. The analysis suggests, that TSMC’s perceived shortages align more closely with market fluctuations and the company’s own decisions, rather than worker inadequacy. The narrative is made more untenable by issue like wage stagnation, gender disparities, and a persistent overeducation. Rather than educational shortcomings, the existence of talent shortage problems is more likely caused by broader, more systemic factors. The study proposes that the talent shortage discussions is political in nature, and thus the proper framing of the issue is necessary in order to find sustainable ways to mitigate its consequences and deal with the factors causing it.