TAIPEI - Post-graduate talent in Taiwan faces a tough job market as only 68.97 percent of the island's master, or doctoral degree holders were engaged in work in 2018, the lowest level in history, according to statistical authorities.

From 2014 to 2018, about 120,000 people with master or doctoral degrees exited the job market, meaning the number of job opportunities attractive to them did not grow as fast as the group itself, authorities said.

During the past five years, 260,000 people in Taiwan obtained master or doctoral degrees, accounting for around 1.4 million people, but only 136,000 of the newly emerged degree holders managed to find jobs, statistics showed.

Experts also attributed the change to aging and an increase in the number of people who take child-care leave.