Shifting Hours, Shifting Support: Mapping Working-Hour Trajectories and Safety Net Participation In Taiwan

Background and Purpose

Unemployment in Taiwan has detrimental effects on households, and social safety net programs aim to mitigate these effects. Research has examined employment patterns at a single point in time or over short periods. Research on employment trajectories over extended periods is limited, and even fewer studies have examined the relationship between employment trajectories and participation in social welfare programs. Using six-year longitudinal data, this study aims to (1) examine employment patterns and identify working-hour trajectories, (2) identify characteristics associated with employment trajectories, and (3) compare social welfare program participation across employment trajectory groups and assess whether current programs sufficiently protect those with unstable employment. The results have implications for targeting social welfare programs for low-income workers to enhance their economic well-being.

Methods

Using four waves of the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD) between 2016 and 2022, we analyzed household heads aged 18-64 with at least one child under 18 (N=1,912). Employment status was categorized as not employed, part-time employed, or full-time employed. Employment trajectories were classified into four groups: consistently full-time employed, unstably employed, consistently part-time employed, and consistently unemployed. Five social welfare programs were included. Descriptive statistics were used to examine employment patterns, latent class analysis was used to determine employment trajectories, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and employment trajectories. Welfare program participation rates by employment trajectory groups were analyzed over time.

Results

Approximately 63.2% of respondents were consistently employed full-time, 8.9% part-time, and 14.6% unemployed. 13.3% experienced employment transitions, mostly between 2020 and 2022. Females and older individuals were more likely to experience stable unemployment, unstable employment, and part-time employment. Respondents without a college degree and younger were more likely to experience unstable employment. Consistently unemployed individuals were older, female, less educated, and had lower incomes. Moreover, our results indicate that consistently employed individuals were more likely to receive benefits from universal programs (kindergarten assistance, educational assistance) and less likely to apply for medical or disability assistance compared to other groups. Those who were consistently unemployed had the highest participation rates in both universal programs and the lowest rates of medical and disability assistance. In contrast, 9.06% and 8.27% of people who were unstably employed received unemployment benefits and minimum living wages, respectively. These participation rates suggest that these programs are not fully serving all who might need them.

Discussion

This study identified four distinct employment trajectories in Taiwan. Individuals in the consistently non-employed group tend to be older, female, less educated, and have lower incomes. People with different employment trajectories have varying needs for social welfare subsidies. Our findings highlight the importance of welfare program participation for those who are consistently non-employed and unstably employed, and the need to address potential gaps in the welfare system. Employment stability is crucial for reducing reliance on cash benefits and other welfare programs. Policies and programs should focus on supporting individuals in transitioning to stable employment to promote gender equity and enhance their economic security and family well-being.