Entrepreneurial Inclinations Among Taiwan’s Students and Young Professionals: A Multi-Method Exploration of Economic Pragmatism, National Identity, and China Relations

Taiwan faces a critical economic transition from manufacturing dominance to a knowledge-based economy amid demographic pressures from an aging workforce. This study examines how this structural shift shapes entrepreneurial aspirations among students and young professionals, with particular attention to the role of creative and cultural industries. Using regression analysis of survey data (N = 354) and qualitative interviews conducted in Taipei and Kaohsiung (August–October 2023), the findings indicate that students and young professionals in the creative industries exhibit markedly higher entrepreneurial inclinations (11 times more likely) than peers in other sectors. Among the working population, perceptions of supportive entrepreneurial environments strongly predict venture creation, while individuals in service sectors demonstrate twice the entrepreneurial tendency of those in traditional manufacturing. Respondents cite autonomy, flexibility, and personal achievement as primary motivators, while identifying financial insecurity and limited capital access as persistent barriers. These findings suggest that Taiwan's economic evolution is attracting young talent toward higher-value service occupations, signaling a potentially functioning entrepreneurial ecosystem in creative sectors. Policy implications point toward strengthening synergies between private sector actors and creative industries, moving beyond traditional support measures to enable innovation-led development that addresses demographic challenges through productivity gains in knowledge-intensive sectors.