In 1998, when both Hsieh and Ma first took office, the jobless rate in Taipei was 2.6 %, while in Kaohsiung it was 3.4 %. By 2005, it had risen to 3.9 % in Taipei and 4.2 % in Kaohsiung.
若以馬、謝兩位市長上任的民國 87 年為基準，當時台北市失業率是 2.6 %，高雄市是 3.4 %；到了民國 94 年，台北市失業率 3.9 %，高雄市是 4.2 %。