Chen then continued his work for the Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan as deputy director-general of the Department of Air Quality Protection and Noise Control in 1989–1992, director-general of the same department in 1992–2001, director of the Bureau of Environmental Inspection in 2001–2002, director-general of the Department of Waste Management in 2002–2005, inspector of the Recycling Fund Management Board in 2002–2004 and director-general of the Department of Comprehensive Planning in 2005–2006.

By 2007, Chen had been named leader of Taipei's department of economic development [zh].

[5][6] Chen was appointed Minister of Labor on 20 August 2014,[7] and left office upon the inauguration of Tsai Ing-wen as president on 20 May 2016.

In August 2019, Chen replaced Hung Tung-wei [zh] as deputy mayor of Kaohsiung.

[8] Chen concurrently chaired the Kaohsiung Election Commission.