TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Long years in education, delayed marriage, and limited support for working parents are making it harder for Taiwan to raise its birth rate, National Taiwan University professor Chen Yu-hua (陳玉華) believes.
In a Youtube video on Monday, Chen told journalist Fan Chi-fei (范琪斐) that many people finish university at about 22 and then continue to graduate school. After entering the workforce and establishing their careers, they may already be in their late 20s or early 30s before considering marriage.
This delay leaves people with less time to start families, especially women who hope to become pregnant naturally. Many people believe they still have plenty of time, even though the biological window for having children is much shorter than a person’s working life.
Chen said cash payments may help families, but they cannot solve the deeper causes of Taiwan’s low birthrate. Parents also need affordable childcare, flexible work arrangements, and confidence that they can return to their previous positions after taking parental leave.
“Traditional expectations place much of the childcare burden on women,” Chen said. Women may therefore face pressure to leave work, accept lower pay, or give up career opportunities after having children.
Workplace support can make an important difference for people deciding whether to become parents. Companies can help by offering childcare services, flexible leave, and protection for employees returning from parental leave.
Chen said the government should treat children as a shared public responsibility rather than placing the full burden on parents. Policies should also support different types of households, including unmarried couples, single-person homes, and other nontraditional households.
“Taiwan must also prepare for a society with fewer young people and more older residents,” Chen said. Immigration, automation, robotics, and stronger care services may help fill labor shortages, but each option requires long-term planning.
Instead of describing the low birthrate as a “national crisis,” Chen said officials should help people understand their choices and plan their lives. Policies should make marriage and parenthood more practical rather than relying mainly on cash incentives.
