TAIPEI – According to a survey released by China Credit Information Service, and reported by CENS, half of the top 10 companies in Taiwan were in the red for 2008 and 20% of the top 500 companies posted a loss for the year.

Employment in Taiwan was down by 21,400 in 2008.

In 2007 total revenue from the top 500 companies grew by 44.4%, but in 2008 revenue only increased by 1.2%.

The export and technology segments were hardest hit. Electronic components and printed circuit board companies suffered some of the biggest losses for the year.