Social mobility refers to status changes in labor market of two generations or individual. Occupation is one of the most important activities for modern people. The changes in occupation and status have significant meaning for a person, no matter in the material or symbolic aspect. This article, from the perspective of social mobility, discusses the changes in labor capital, social structure and distribution of resources of the R.O.C. during the past hundred years, and illustrates how Taiwan experienced the transformation.

       Generally, the talents a society needs differ as the demands of industries change. When economic structure changes, a specific fields of talents is needed, resulting in new occupations and more opportunities for mobility. This mode is called “structural mobility,” which was the major factor leading to Taiwan’s intergeneration mobility in the past. The development and transformation of economy and education elevated labor capital and transformed the society from agricultural society to industrialized society and service industry as the majority. As a result, a society with mobility was born, influencing every person’s life. In the traditional agricultural society, most of the people spend their entire lives in the village and doing agricultural works. At the time, social development is less obvious, and there are less opportunities of social mobility. It is common that father passes down his occupation to his son, and the family works in agriculture for generations. Individual does not receive formal education and have many choices of occupations, and few people leave their hometown for works. This description of society no longer exists as the society goes through industrialization. The result of Taiwan’s industrialization is tremendous differences between two generation’s occupations. Increasing number of offspring no longer and could not inherit the occupation of their parents. Agricultural sector’s proportion continuously declined in the overall economy, and rising cities and industrial area provided large numbers and various opportunities for work. Regardless of voluntary or forced ones, people started to experience a high mobility, forming a “society with mobility.”

        Although China was still considered an agricultural society during the period of late Qing Dynasty to the early years of the R.O.C, centering in Shanghai, modernized cities and towns of Yangtze and southern east area in China started to developed and participated in global economy, from the early years since the R.O.C’s establishment to 1949. Comparing to the stagnation of the industry in villages, modern enterprises start to grow in cities and at the same time drove the rapid development of finance, transportation and other industries. The increase of population and industrialization lead to social mobility. The classes of capitalists and labors speedily increase in the cities. Apart from that, local gentlemen and intellectuals begin to gather in the cities as well and transfer to various rising occupations. The abolishment of imperial exam in late Qing Dynasty resulted in the disappearance of these people’s original way of upgrading to upper class. Thus, the original class of gentlemen became diverse, and some of these people transfer to capitalists.

        In the early years after the R.O.C. was establishment, due to the frequent wars, joining the army became a unique way of social mobility. Nationalist government itself was a way of upgrading to higher status. Entering the huge bureaucratic system had long been an ideal choice of occupation for intellectuals in the country around the time of WWII. The various examinations are the criteria for entering the bureaucratic system and show the importance of individuals’ educational achievements. Individual’s intergenerational mobility is highly related to the promotion in the system and political factors.

           From the early years of the R.O.C. to 1949, China’s social mobility proceeded in a rather unstable situation, and it was very different from the social mobility in Taiwan, after the government’s retreatment. The unique geography and history of Taiwan leads to a unique stage of social stratification. Taiwan was a newly developing island at the time. The main population of Taiwan was immigrants from the coastal regions in China during the two or three hundred years. Chinese culture integrated with the culture of aboriginals and Pingpu aboriginals, which shaped a kind of frontier character. The rapid increase of Han people and development of land caused the conflicts between Han and aboriginals and the competition in resources of Han and Hakka people. A highly changeable society thus started to develop, which kept Taiwan from forming a stable system of social class.

         Taiwan transformed from a rather close agriculture society, gradually to a looser social structure, and to a stable social structure. Apart from the differences in material conditions such as the diversity of occupations and incomes, differences in cultures is one of the factors of acquiring a higher social status as well.

        The structure of promotion and the type of occupation in labor market have direct impact on the distribution of social resources. Ideally, the payments of occupations reflect the high or low human capital of the employees. However, many realistic and social factors would cause unfairness of payment, such as gender differences. Even though females have chances for advanced education and training, their payment and chances of promotion are still lower than that of male. Relation between employers and employees is another factor that affects the distribution of resources, and generally, employees are in the disadvantaged position. Wage gap resulting in broadening gap between rich and poor is an issue Taiwan has to face. 

         The issue of social mobility is highly related to the fairness of a society. In general, when a society could provide opportunity to social mobility, individual is influenced less by his or her background, so the society is more fair and open. Though a society that allows individual to achieve his or her career all by his or her efforts, which is a completed meritocracy society, is very rare around the whole world, a society that is mobile, fair mad open is a goal worth all people’s trying.