TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A recent job bank survey revealed on Friday (Oct. 18) a growing preference among Taiwanese workers to raise pets over children, influenced by a rise in anti-marriage sentiments and declining birth rates.
The 1111 Job Bank (1111人力銀行) survey, conducted 1,123 responses from Oct. 1 to Oct. 17, found that 62.5% of respondents own pets, with dogs leading at 43.1% and cats at 30.4%. The survey also indicated that pet owners spend an average of 2.5 hours daily playing with their pets.
Pet owners prioritize spending on essentials such as food and supplements, accounting for 83.2% of expenses, followed by medical treatment at 61.6%. On average, they are willing to spend NT$1,850 monthly. The survey also highlighted that 48.6% of pet owners adopted their pets, while 24.8% purchased them, and 21.2% received them as gifts.
Meanwhile, 7.5% of workers expressed no interest in owning any pets, citing unsuitable living conditions, a lack of affection for animals, financial concerns, time constraints, and allergies. The pet industry is booming, with over 3,800 job opportunities currently available, marking a 12.3% increase from 2023. Popular roles include veterinarians, pet caregivers, and pet groomers.
The Ministry of Finance (財政部) estimates the pet-related market at nearly NT$40 billion, while the Ministry of Agriculture (農業部) optimistically projects it could reach NT$60 billion.
