Pressure for wages to increase in 2026 is heightening, according to results from a 1111 Job Bank survey released on Friday. In the survey, 66.7% of participants reported that they do not expect a salary increase in 2025 and hope for one next year.
From 1,069 valid questionnaires, the 1111 Job Bank survey showed that 18.5% of office workers said they have already received a salary increase in the first half of this year, with an average salary increase of NT$ 2,300 (US$ 76), and 14.8% are optimistic about one. However, it also reported that 66.7% see no hope for a salary increase, with the primary reason being a lack of a regular salary adjustment system. Other reasons include poor company profits and unspoken rules.
1111 Job Bank spokesperson UJ Chuang (莊雨潔) analyzed that 91% of office workers are dissatisfied with their salaries, a six-year high. She elaborated that although the minimum wage has been raised every year, those who earn slightly higher than minimum wage have not received a salary increase for a long time. Chuang underscored that this population, which accounts for the largest percentage in the job market, still has to bear the pressure of inflation and is frequently overlooked.
The Legislature amended the Securities and Exchange Act last year, which requires listed domestic companies to set aside profits to increase the salaries of grassroots employees. However, the job bank called for an amendment to the act to cover all small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Labor Ministry is expected to convene the Minimum Wage Review Committee in the third quarter of this year.