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TAIPEI, Taiwan -- JCase, a job search engine aimed at helping people find a second occupation, released a study illustrating the worsening economic situations which many Taiwanese workers face as prices of gas, electricity, and general necessities rise globally.
This year, according to JCase, the average salaries of Taiwan workers dropped 2.01
percent -- the biggest decline in 29 years. This drop, coupled with price inflation and the worsening Taiwan stock market, have increased people's desires to find a second job. The study indicates that 31.05 percent of Taiwan workers already have a second job, and
81.29 percent of people who do not have one have expressed interest in finding a second occupation.
The study further shows that on average, an individual earns NT$22,000 from a second job, with 22.21 percent of workers earning more than NT$30,000.
JCase also lists the ten most popular occupations which its users have chosen along with their original jobs: work that involves translation, advertisement design, Web and software design, computer and technology repair and Web blog maintenance.
Moreover, as people tend to have limited time with the second job, the study indicates that most of the JCase users prefer occupations that are more flexible to their schedules. Thus, people tend not to work at convenient stores or fast food restaurants where a greater time commitment may be required.
Hsu Chin-huang, general manager of JChase, added that apart from finding a second job, people have found other ways to reduce spending. Hsu cited that as 76.41 percent of workers are most frustrated with the rise in the price of gas, and 75.6 percent are frustrated with the price of electricity, people have been looking for different ways to reduce both gas and electricity consumption.
Some examples that Hsu raised include using fans, rather than air conditioners, turning off lights when not at home and sleeping earlier to reduce electricity consumption.
A man surnamed Lee, who wishes not to use his first name, shared his story to illustrate the growing need of finding a second occupation, saying, "My salary isn't stable... but prices have been increasing. In fact, everything has been increasing except my income."
To remain financially secure, Lee rented an apartment with several people and found several different jobs, including being a wedding host and a substitute teacher. He further stated that the money that he saves by being more careful with his electricity and gas consumption, "though small, is still money and still very important."
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