A rapid decrease in population is causing alarms to go off in the Yunlin County Government, as it would mean downsizing the government within the first term of newly elected Yunlin County Commissioner Lee Chin-yung (李進勇).
Official data shows that the county’s population has dropped to 705,356, with the figure declining by an average of 3,000 per year over the past four years.
The county government attributed the problem to a low birthrate, which has been lagging behind the natural death rate, and a lack of job opportunities, forcing residents to move in search of employment elsewhere.
Ministry of the Interior data showed that Yunlin County recorded about 6,000 newborns in 2012 — corresponding with the Chinese zodiacal sign of the Dragon, which many view as auspicious — but the figure dropped to less than 5,000 each in 2013 and last year.
Natural deaths occurring per annum countywide were tallied at about 7,000, the county said.
If the problem is not solved, the county could see its population fall below 700,000 within four years, the county said.
According to the Local Government Act (地方制度法), counties with populations of more than 700,000 people can establish 23 bureaus. However, if the population drops below 700,000, the county government is limited to less than that figure.
To prevent downsizing, Yunlin would try to improve birth rates in the county, the local government said.
Department of Social Affairs head Ting Yen-che (丁彥哲) said the county government provides a subsidy of NT$8,000 per newborn child.
However, Ting added that the subsidies were only a drop in the ocean and had limited impact on the birthrate.
Aside from trying to raise the birthrate, the county government must try to stanch the outflow of people seeking employment elsewhere, Ting said.
Local education, labor and social benefits also need to be substantially improved, Ting said.
Department of Civil Affairs head Hsu Mu-shan (許木山) said the county government is well aware of the pressure from a decreasing population and is working to increase the birthrate and find ways to keep residents in the county.
The county government is planning to form an intra-bureau or interdepartmental task force to focus on increasing the county’s allure, so more people would have incentive to move to Yunlin County, Hsu said.
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