Labour shortages are proving to be a worldwide blight on the IT manufacturing industry.

Digitmes is reporting that Taiwan-based notebook component suppliers are reportedly suffering from labour shortages as workers return home for the holidays . All this is happening while orders are increasing. Apparently it is traditional in Taiwan for suppliers are already facing a lack of manpower in September, especially in the chassis and connector segments, however this year it is worse.

Wanshih Electronic, High-Tek Harness, Shin Zu Shing (SZS) and Foxlink have all confirmed labour shortages. This is forcing manufacturers to change their shipment forecasts for September due to suppliers' inability to deliver products. Several companies have started improving their employee rewards systems, and are working with schools in rural areas to take on interns to cover the gap. If demand continues to climb, the labour shortages are expected to become even more serious beyond the middle of the fourth quarter, the sources pointed out.

Meanwhile providers of photovoltaic (PV) system installation service in Germany have to delay their work schedules or even decline new orders because of a shortage of manpower, and this may affect exports of solar cells and PV modules to the country from Taiwan- and China-based makers in the fourth quarter. These PV system installation companies in Germany earlier this year downsized their manpower to cope with the economic downtun, the sources said. Although demand is growing, they are not expanding their workforce due to an uncertain outlook for the market in 2010, the sources indicated.