Taiwan Labor Pension Gains Reach NT$1.7 Trillion, With Average Account Earnings Near NT$130,100

Strong pension gains come with a personal calculation

Taiwan's new labor pension fund earned NT$1.70442 trillion in the first nine months of 2026, delivering a return of 30.43% and taking its assets to NT$6.06222 trillion by September 30. Divided among about 13.1 million eligible accounts, those earnings work out to roughly NT$130,100 per account.

The Bureau of Labor Funds released the September figures on November 2. Across the labor funds it manages, assets reached NT$9.21089 trillion, with investment earnings of NT$2.44053 trillion and a return of 30.73% for January through September. September alone added about NT$117.8 billion.

For workers, the immediate benefit is growth in the pool supporting their retirement savings. Individual allocations will follow the annual settlement, with the distribution for 2026 due by the end of March 2027. The amount credited to each account depends on its balance and how long the money was invested.

The figures also resolve a discrepancy in the headline average. Dividing NT$1.70442 trillion by 13.1 million accounts produces about NT$130,109, rather than the NT$132,800 estimate also given for the period. Workers will receive different allocations because their contribution histories differ.

September strengthened a recovery after sharp losses

The new labor pension fund earned NT$80.79 billion in September, increasing its cumulative earnings from NT$1.62363 trillion at the end of August to NT$1.70442 trillion. Using the same approximate account count, the average rose from about NT$123,900 to NT$130,100, an increase of around NT$6,200.

The broader labor funds earned NT$484.5 billion across August and September. That recovery followed losses earlier in the year, showing how quickly investment results can change even within a period that ends with substantial gains.

The new pension fund's monthly results trace that uneven journey:

• January and February: Gains of NT$261.88 billion and NT$277.06 billion built an early cushion.
• March: A loss of NT$250.75 billion cut sharply into those gains.
• April: Earnings of NT$760.99 billion more than recovered March's loss.
• May and June: Gains of NT$404.99 billion and NT$73.69 billion lifted cumulative earnings to about NT$1.528 trillion.
• July: A loss of NT$179.79 billion reduced cumulative earnings to about NT$1.348 trillion.
• August and September: Gains of NT$275.56 billion and NT$80.79 billion brought cumulative earnings to about NT$1.704 trillion.

April's gain was roughly three times March's loss. August and September together earned NT$356.35 billion for the new pension fund, nearly twice July's loss. Those changes help explain why the amount eventually distributed must wait for the full year's result.

How each worker's share is calculated

The Bureau of Labor Insurance calculates individual allocations using the accumulated daily balances in each pension account throughout the year. Each account receives a share based on how its accumulated daily balance compares with the total for all participating accounts.

In simple terms, both the amount invested and the time it stays invested matter. A worker whose money remains in an account throughout the year has a different allocation base from someone who begins contributing near the end of the year, even if their balances eventually become similar.

Monthly contributions also enter at different times. Money contributed in January participates for longer than money contributed in December. Larger contributions and longer contribution periods therefore affect the calculation alongside money already saved.

The bureau uses the fund's distributable earnings and this account calculation to determine the final credit. Workers seeking a personal estimate need their contribution record and account details; multiplying a current balance by the fund's 30.43% return skips the timing information used in the allocation.

When the earnings reach pension accounts

The annual distribution follows a set administrative timetable. The Bureau of Labor Funds notifies the Bureau of Labor Insurance of the previous year's investment profit or loss by the end of February. The insurance bureau then completes the allocation by the end of March.

For the 2026 investment year, that means notification by the end of February 2027 and allocation by March 31, 2027. Investment results for October through December will help determine the final amount available for distribution.

Workers can then check the amount credited to their personal accounts. The September figures provide an update on investment performance, while the annual account entry records the individual's actual allocation after settlement.

Which funds earned the most?

The old labor pension fund recorded the highest return among the main labor funds, at 44.16%. Its assets stood at NT$1.2117 trillion, with cumulative earnings of NT$411.22 billion. The labor insurance fund held NT$1.6812 trillion and earned NT$315.69 billion, a return of 27.14%.

The new labor pension fund remained much larger than either. Its NT$6.06222 trillion in assets represented about 65.8% of the NT$9.21089 trillion labor fund total. Its NT$1.70442 trillion in earnings accounted for roughly 69.8% of total labor fund earnings.

Other labor funds posted smaller returns. The employment insurance fund held NT$190.2 billion and returned 2.73%; the occupational accident insurance fund held NT$38.7 billion and returned 1.51%; and the arrears of wages payment fund held NT$26.9 billion and returned 17.33%.

The bureau also manages money entrusted by other ministries. The National Pension Insurance Fund, entrusted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, held NT$914.4 billion and returned 29.57%. The Farmers' Retirement Fund, entrusted by the Ministry of Agriculture, held NT$32.5 billion and returned 40.72%. These entrusted funds are listed separately from the labor fund total.

What supported markets in September?

Taiwan's stock market rose about 1,811 points, or 3.93%, in September. Demand linked to semiconductors and artificial intelligence supply chains supported major electronics shares, helping the domestic investment environment.

Trading money was concentrated in a small number of large electronics companies. Because those companies carry substantial weight in the market index, their share prices have a strong effect on its movement. Smaller companies and businesses in other industries experienced different results.

The Bureau of Labor Funds described an international environment shaped by Middle East tensions, higher energy prices, inflation and interest rate changes. Higher energy costs can increase business expenses and household bills. Changes in interest rates also affect borrowing costs and the prices investors are willing to pay for shares and bonds.

The bureau said it would continue reviewing investments as global political and economic conditions change. Its approach combines domestic and overseas stocks, bonds and alternative assets, spreading money among different investments while pursuing steady returns over longer periods.

How the gains compare with longer periods

The labor funds' return of 30.73% for the first nine months was well above the bureau's reported average returns of 12.20% over the preceding 10 years and 15.58% over five years. The National Pension Insurance Fund's corresponding averages were 12.32% and 15.39%.

The monthly figures give workers a concrete reason to look beyond a single strong result. The new pension fund moved from a loss of NT$250.75 billion in March to a gain of NT$760.99 billion in April, then recorded another loss in July. Retirement money remains invested through those changes.

The Bureau of Labor Insurance also describes protection for pension contributions. Contributed principal is protected against investment losses. When a worker claims the pension, cumulative earnings over the contribution period are compared with the minimum guaranteed earnings calculated under the rules, and any shortfall is made up.

The bureau's pension claim guidance identifies Article 23, paragraph 2 of the Labor Pension Act as the basis for the minimum earnings guarantee. From the start of contributions until the pension is lawfully claimed, cumulative earnings must be no lower than the cumulative return calculated using the annual average two-year bank deposit rates for the same period. The benchmark is calculated from the fixed rates for small two-year time deposits posted on the first business day of each month by Bank of Taiwan, First Commercial Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Land Bank of Taiwan and Chang Hwa Commercial Bank. The Bureau of Labor Funds publishes the average annual rate each month as that month's minimum guaranteed return.

Who can withdraw the money?

Workers generally become eligible to claim their new labor pension at age 60, including those who remain employed. The payment options depend on the length of their contribution record.

Someone with at least 15 years of contributions can choose a monthly pension or a lump sum. Someone with fewer than 15 years receives a lump sum. The contribution record therefore affects how the savings can be paid, as well as the amount accumulated.

Contribution years are calculated from the actual number of months in which pension contributions were made, with periods before and after a break added together. Service covered by an agreed settlement of retirement benefits under the Labor Standards Act can also count if those benefits are transferred in full to the worker's personal pension account at the Bureau of Labor Insurance under the rules.

Workers younger than 60 who lose the ability to work may qualify for an early claim under the applicable rules. Their eligibility and payment amount require an individual assessment by the Bureau of Labor Insurance.

For an early claim, a labor insurance participant must already have received a labor insurance disability pension or a lump-sum disability benefit for disability grade 1, 2 or 3. A National Pension Insurance participant must already have received a disability pension or a basic guaranteed disability pension. People insured under neither system must meet the qualifying disability type, condition and grade for the relevant labor insurance benefit, or the disability type, category and condition for the relevant National Pension Insurance benefit. Labor insurance and National Pension Insurance participants must claim the corresponding disability benefit before applying for early payment of their labor pension.

Early claimants with at least 15 years of contributions can choose a monthly pension or a lump sum; those with fewer than 15 years must receive a lump sum. Applicants qualifying through the route for people insured under neither system must also submit copies of both sides of a valid disability certificate showing severe disability or above.

Annual investment earnings become part of the personal pension account and are available through the pension claim process. A worker receiving an allocation in March 2027 will have that amount added to retirement savings, with withdrawal governed by the age and eligibility rules.

How to check an individual account

Workers can use the Bureau of Labor Insurance's online services to review their personal pension accounts and run benefit estimates. Login options include mobile phone authentication, a Citizen Digital Certificate, a virtual labor insurance certificate, a mobile Citizen Digital Certificate or a financial electronic certificate.

People who prefer another route can check through an ATM using an eligible Labor Protection Card or postal financial card. They can also visit a Bureau of Labor Insurance office with identification for an account inquiry.

The most useful information is the worker's own contribution history, accumulated balance and, once the annual allocation is completed, the earnings credited to the account. Those records connect the fund's large investment totals to the amount available for an individual's retirement.

Key Points

• Taiwan's new labor pension fund earned NT$1.70442 trillion through September 2026, returning 30.43%.
• Dividing those earnings among about 13.1 million accounts gives an average of roughly NT$130,100.
• Total labor fund earnings reached NT$2.44053 trillion, including about NT$117.8 billion in September.
• Individual allocations depend on daily account balances and contribution timing.
• The 2026 annual allocation is due by March 31, 2027, after the full year's results are settled.
• Workers generally can claim at age 60; those with at least 15 years of contributions can choose monthly payments or a lump sum.
• Workers under 60 who lose the ability to work must meet specified disability benefit conditions for an early claim; insured applicants must first receive the relevant disability benefit.
• Article 23, paragraph 2 of the Labor Pension Act guarantees minimum cumulative earnings based on two-year bank deposit rates over the contribution period.