earnings are eroded by inflation, according to the results of a survey released yesterday by 1111 Job Bank. The results correspond to a report released a day earlier by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics that shows that the real regular earnings of workers declined by 0.03 percent in 2007 after deducting a 1.8 percent increase in the country's consumer price index, marking the third time over the past four years in which negative growth has been recorded.
The survey, conducted Jan. 15-28 among 1,067 workers, reveals that 85.94 percent of respondents are anxious about their financial situation, with 71.51 percent expressing worry about rising consumer prices, 45.74 percent about the lack of opportunities to make money, and 41.33 percent about the sluggish economy.
On average, most respondents think they need assets worth NT$32.94 million to ease their anxiety, while 26.52 percent said they would require NT$10 million and 20.43 percent said they would require NT$100 million.
However, the wealth currently held by the respondents averages only NT$1.31 million, with 38.67 percent having less than NT$500,000 and 40.45 percent being in debt.
On the methods of amassing wealth, 44.89 percent of the respondents are planning to do so through financial management, 20.06 percent through hard work and 18.09 percent through starting their own business.
In addition, 4.05 percent of respondents wish to make a fortune by winning the lottery, 1.69 percent hope to achieve the goal by marrying a rich person and 0.19 percent hope to inherit.
