Taiwan's unmarried office workers reluctant to get married, have children: survey

TAIPEI - More than 58 percent of unmarried adult office workers in Taiwan have no plans to get married, and half of couples without children do not plan have them due to economic pressures and other reasons, according to a job website survey.

Job website Yes123 conducted an online survey of 1,304 adult office workers aged 20 or above in March, and collected 888 questionnaires from enterprises.

Unmarried respondents cited "low income levels," "difficulty to find the right person," "can't afford to buy a house,", "want to live a free life," and "insufficient saving" as the main reasons for not entering marriage.

Demographic data showed about 135,400 couples got married in Taiwan last year, the lowest in nine years, while 181,600 new babies were born last year, the lowest in eight years.

Demographic authorities estimate Taiwan will see negative population growth in 2022 and become a "super aging" society by 2026. Its work force could be halved in 2065 from the level of 2018.

Yes123 found 38.7 percent of office workers said they had children.

Half of workers without children said it was because their current incomes could not support such plans. Some said they were work-laden and too busy to look after children. Others said they were not satisfied with the education quality and institutions in Taiwan.

Analyzing the survey results, Yang Tsung-pin, spokesman for Yes123, said low salaries, long work hours, high house prices and education environment were to blame for the low birth rate.

To raise a child, a couple expects to have a decent monthly household income of 102,000 new Taiwan dollars (about $3,300) on average, or about 2.45 times the average regular salary level, according to survey.