A middle-aged man from Tainan, laid off from his job, reluctantly entered the taxi industry to make a living but found that his income fell short of expectations within three months, struggling to cover basic expenses. His experience resonated widely online, sparking heated discussions.

This man recently shared his experience in a Facebook group, indicating that after being laid off, he actively sent out resumes but faced repeated rejections, ultimately choosing to obtain a taxi license as a means of survival. However, he pointed out that after driving for three months, his daily income, after deducting car rental fees, fuel costs, and health insurance, barely amounted to less than a thousand dollars—essentially eating away at his savings—and he is now considering giving up on this path.

His situation stirred lively debate, with many netizens agreeing that the core issue stems from the rental car model. A seasoned driver responded, saying, "Running a rental car simply doesn't earn much; just the car rental eats away at over a thousand dollars a day," and he recommended that if one truly wants to invest in this industry long-term, buying a used car to reduce fixed costs would be the better option.

Moreover, many netizens offered job transition suggestions, stating that if the taxi industry is unsuitable, one might consider pursuing other jobs with lower entry barriers and stable demand, including security work, food delivery, cleaning services, and even learning plumbing, masonry, and other technical skills, which are currently more accessible in the market.

Some highlighted that while security work has long hours, it offers relative stability and a low barrier to entry, making it very suitable for middle-aged individuals; food delivery offers flexibility and immediate income; and learning a skill such as plumbing may require an initial learning commitment but can lead to personal job contracts in the future, providing better long-term potential.

It is also recommended that middle-aged job seekers make full use of government employment services and training resources, as many local initiatives exist, such as in Tainan, to assist middle-aged workers in transitioning to new jobs.