低薪工作對臺北地區青年的影響：社會排除觀點

本研究旨在探討低薪工作如何影響青年的生活及未來發展，並從中得知青年對於「薪資是否適足」的衡量因素為何，期望理解低薪工作如何形塑青年的人生樣貌。本研究採借多面向與動態歷程特性的「社會排除」觀點，進行資料蒐集、分析及撰寫。研究方法採深度訪談法，以十五位目前每月經常性薪資新臺幣35,000元以下，於臺北市或新北市就業之25-29歲全時工作者為研究對象。本研究第一個研究發現為：薪資高低是相對概念，低薪是現實問題也是感受問題。青年對於薪資是否適足的想法及感受，不只端看帳面上的數字多寡，也常納入各種結構性及個人性因素一併衡量，如工作性質、勞動條件及福利、職場環境、所處產業之薪資水準、家庭經濟狀況、個人人力資本、消費習慣及價值觀等。意即，青年判斷薪資是否適足的關鍵取決於：薪資所得與付出/承擔的成本間之比值是否合乎效益。第二個研究發現為：低薪工作使青年面臨經濟資源排除狀況，因此限縮各個生活面向的選擇；工作性質及勞動狀況本身，也會直接壓縮其生活品質。生活各面向的排除情形，導致多數低薪青年認為目前的生活滿意度僅「還能接受」，而把未來期許及規劃聚焦在提升個人的生活品質。另外，惡劣的勞動條件及經濟狀況導致低薪青年教育進修成效不佳，並限縮轉職的機會，影響個人職涯發展。最後，「自我效能感」對於低薪青年的人生規劃具關鍵影響力：低薪青年對於「僅須對自己負責的未來」，例如個人職業生涯規畫及生活品質的提升，仍保有希望且自我效能感較高；但凡對於「必須對他人負責的未來」，如結婚、生育、供養父母等社會角色的執行，則多抱持誠惶誠恐或敬謝不敏的態度，自我效能感低落。最後一個研究發現：臺灣青年世代價值觀與惡劣勞動市場結構產生的衝突，可能使低薪青年落入薛西佛斯的困局裡無法動彈。然而，本研究僅為初探研究，尚無法得知此困局如何形成？有哪些相關機制在其中作用？有待後續研究者深入探究。綜合上述發現，本研究建議如下：第一，針對「穩定就業」青年提供人力資本的累積與強化政策，減少學習新的知識技能的障礙，並協助有意轉換跑道的青年順利轉職。另外，由公司提供友善的進修教育制度，有助於青年在職進修的意願及學習成效，建議政府可再加強現行與企業合作舉辦教育訓練之相關策略。第二，本研究發現阻礙低薪青年儲蓄的主要支出為房租及學貸，建議政府檢視現行學貸還款政策是否符合實際需求，並提供低薪青年生活必需面向之服務或減輕經濟負擔之方案，增加其每月實際可支配所得。在薪資結構短期內不可能大幅提升的情況下，藉由政策協助青年降低消費支出，才可能提升青年儲蓄率、增加其財務的穩定度，從而擺脫動彈不得的現狀，有餘裕及信心想望未來、規劃人生。

關鍵字

低薪工作；青年；社會排除；臺北

並列摘要

The purpose of this research not only aims to discuss how low-paid jobs affect the lives of young adults and their future development, but also to learn what are the factors to measure "salary adequacy". Also hoping to understand how low-paid jobs define their lives. This research adopts multi-factors and the dynamic processes traits of "perspective of social exclusion" to collect, analyze and compose. The research method is based on in-depth interviews. There are fifteen full-time workers aged from 25-29 who are currently employed in Taipei City or New Taipei City with a monthly salary of under NT$35,000 as the research interviewees. The first finding of this research is: salary level is a relative concept and low salary could be a real problem as well as a sensitive issue. The idea and sense of young adults about the adequacy of salary are not only determined by the figures but also by various structural and personal factors. For instance, the nature of work, labor conditions and benefits, working environment, salary level, family financial status, personal human capital, consumption habits and values, etc. This means that the key to judge whether the salary is adequate for young adults depends on whether the ratio of salary income to the cost or responsibility is beneficial. The second finding is that: low-paid jobs make young adults face the exclusion of economic resources which leads to limiting the choices of various life aspects. The nature of work and labor conditions will directly lower the quality of life as well. The exclusion of all life aspects has caused most low-paid young adults to have that current life satisfaction level is only "acceptable", and tend to focus more on their future goals and improvement of life quality. Besides, poor working conditions and economic situation have led to negative results in learning and education which restrict their chances of changing jobs as well as personal career development. Moreover, "sense of self-efficacy" has a key influence on their life planning. These young adults still have high hopes and a sense of self-efficacy for "being responsible toward their futures", such as personal career development and life quality improvement. However, they have a low sense of self-efficacy and hold a fear and lower expectation for the implementation of social roles such as marriage, childbirth, and support for parents, whichever link to the idea of "being responsible for others." The last study finding is that the conflict between the values of a younger generation and the poor labor market structure may fall into The Myth of Sisyphus. Nevertheless, this research is only a preliminary study, it is yet to know how this dilemma is formed and what are the relevant mechanisms within. It is to be confirmed for further investigation by future research. Based on the above findings, the recommendations are as follows. First, provide “stable employed” young adults human capital accumulation and strengthened policies to reduce the obstacles to learning new knowledge and skills. Also, to assist those who intend to change their careers path more smoothly. Furthermore, the organization could provide a friendly further education system, which is helpful to young adult’s willingness and learning effectiveness. It is recommended that the government should cooperate with enterprises to further strengthen the strategy of educational training. Secondly, this study found that the main obstacles that hinder low-income young adults from saving are housing rent and student loans. It is recommended that the government review whether the current student loan payment policy meets actual needs and provide services that these young adults face or reduce financial burdens to increase their actual monthly income. In the case that the salary structure cannot be increased significantly in the short term, it is to help the young adults with policies to reduce the spending amount so that it will be possible to have a higher savings rate and enhance their financial stability. Also to get rid of the situation with choices and have the leeway and confidence to look forward to future life.