Is an economics bachelor's degree at a Taiwanese university still worth pursuing given AI's impact on social science job markets?

Yes, your economics degree still holds real value, but its worth now depends on how much data skill you build alongside the theory. Taiwan's economy is splitting between a booming tech and finance sector and a stagnating traditional services sector, and you want your degree to place you in the first group.

Where AI Is Changing the Job Market

How to Future Proof Your Degree

• Target fintech, since roughly 87 percent of Taiwanese banks have adopted AI and need people who understand markets to steer it.
• Consider semiconductor supply chain strategy roles at firms like TSMC or ASE Group, which need analysts to track tariffs and trade trends.
• Layer Python, SQL, R, and prompt engineering skills onto your economics coursework, since certificates alone carry little weight with employers.
• Learn business level Mandarin if you plan to work in Taiwan long term, since English only skills limit you to a narrower set of roles.

My Advice

Do not treat your economics degree as the finished product; pick up Python and SQL in your first year and look for a coursework project you can turn into a portfolio piece using real data. Decide early whether you want to build a career in Taiwan or move on afterward, since that will shape how hard you should push on Mandarin fluency.