More young workers in Taiwan are choosing hourly and part-time jobs over full-time posts, a shift that gives them flexibility but leaves their pensions and insurance more exposed.

• Taiwan's minimum wage is about to rise for the 11th year running, and the hourly rate has climbed much faster than the monthly one over the past decade.
• Labor leaders say young people are walking away from full-time jobs because the pay is low and the hours are long, while stacking a few part-time gigs can earn just as much.
• The Ministry of Labor's own research found no proof of a shift from monthly to hourly work — the share on hourly pay rose, but so did the share on monthly pay.
• The rise in both categories mostly came from workers leaving other pay setups, like daily wages or base-pay-plus-commission.
• Unions warn that part-timers are legally entitled to labor insurance and pension contributions, but some employers quietly skip or underpay them.

Outlook: Expect pressure for tighter labor inspections on part-time employers and for a closer look at how each age group is actually being paid.