The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation CONTENT Labour Emigration Demand for Thai workers employed overseas Labour Immigration Investment Situation Labour Force Registration of Unemployment Insures Editorial Labour Demand (DOE) Vol No.33 Issue No.1 January, 2025 TThhaaii LLaabboouurr MMaarrkkeett JJoouurrnnaall In December 2024, Thai labour market had 40.33 million employed, 3.19 hundred thousand unemployed, and 67,292 insured individuals r egi s t e r ed a s unemploy ed with the DOE. The primar y cause of unemployment was res ignation ( 7 7 . 70%). Employer s reported 3 6 , 6 1 2 j o b v a c a n c i e s t h r o u g h t h e D O E , Thai workers employed overseas increased by 24.55%, while foreign workers in Thailand increased by 28.21%. Please follow the further information at Website : https://www.doe.go.th/prd/lmi Labour Demand (December 2024) 36,621 vacancies Thai workers working overseas had increased by 24.55% (YoY) Employed persons 40.33 million Unemployed persons 0.319 million The insured persons who registered unemployment via DOE were 67,292 persons. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Labour Demand : Labour Requirement via DOE MoM -4.84% Labour Demand (vacancy) Job Seekers (person) Job Placements (person) 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 Managers Professionals Technician Clerical support workers Service workers Agriculture/Fishery Craft workers Plant operators Elementary occupations MoM -2.09% Job Vacancies, Job Seekers and Job Placements classified by occupation groups In December 2024, employers/companies reported their labour requirement via DOE about 36,621 vacancies. The highest demand was 14,251 vacancies at the vocational level and diploma (38.91%), followed by 12,589 vacancies at the secondary level (34.38%), 4,911 vacancies at the bachelor’s degree and higher (13.41%), and 4,870 vacancies at the primary level and lower (13.30%). Job Vacancies 1. Job Vacancies 36,621 vacancies Job Seekers 24,347 persons Job Placements 15,936 persons Dec 23 : 67,122 vacancies Nov 24 : 38,482 vacancies YoY -45.44% YoY +24.05% YoY +19.68% MoM -2.56% Labour demand classified by economic sectors Agriculture Sector 392 vacancies Manufacturing Sector 16,548 vacancies Service/Trade Sector 19,681 vacancies Top 3 Top 3 1. Food products 1. Retail 2. Textile Products 2. Wholesale 3. Computer Products 3. Food services 2 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation Source : Department of Employment Job Seekers Job Placements Primary and Lower Job Vacancies, Job Seekers and Job Placements classified by education levels Secondary Vocational/Diploma Bachelor’s Degree and Higher 13.30% Primary and Lower 34.38% Secondary 13.41% Bachelor’s Degree and Higher 38.91% Vocational/Diploma 12.91% Primary and Lower 14.51% Primary and Lower 24.23% Bachelor’s Degree and Higher 17.80% Bachelor’s Degree and High 17.20% Vocational/Diploma 16.73% Vocational/Diploma 45.66% Secondary 50.96% Secondary 482 655 241 408 2,727 2,035 2,248 547 760 6,875 1,547 4,559 4,103 2,620 113 712 1,169 8,869 836 6,467 4,719 5,381 91 1,240 2,191 15,214 95 3. Fisheries and aquaculture 1. Husbandry 2. Forestry and logging Top 3 Dec 23 : 19,627 persons Dec 23 : 13,315 persons Nov 24 : 24,866 persons Nov 24 : 16,355 persons
Labour Emigration : Thai workers working overseas 21,300 persons Africa Taiwan 2,384 persons Malaysia 516 persons Japan 470 persons 2. In December 2024, 138,303 Thai workers were employed overseas. The top three destination countries were Taiwan, Republic of Korea, and Japan. The most in-demand jobs were elementary occupations, followed by factory workers, machine operator and assembly workers, and agricultural and fishery workers. There were 8,786 job seekers permitted to go overseas for employment, with 5,841 job seekers classified into five channels of overseas employment. Among them, the arrangement of agencies had the highest number with 2,636 persons (30.00%), and re-entry permits for work had 2,945 persons (33.52%). The top job field were elementary occupations with 2,206 persons (25.11%) Stock of Thai workers employed overseas Top five countries by stock of Thai workers employed overseas Classified by continents Permission for working overseas Top five countries by flow of Thai workers employed overseas Classified by channels of overseas employment Classified by classification of occupations 3 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation Source : Overseas Employment Administration Division 1,606 persons MoM -1.12% Taiwan 60,191 persons 17,257 persons 15,860 persons 3,095 persons Republic of Korea Japan Israel Singapore Asia Middle East America Australia & Oceania 1. Taiwan 1. Israel 1. Portugal 1. Canada 1. South Africa 1. New Zealand 2. Republic of Korea 2.UAE 2. Hungary 2. USA 2. South Sudan 2. Papua New Guinea 3. Japan 3. Kuwait 3. Russia 3. Greenland 3. Madagascar 3. Australia 4. Singapore 4. Bahrain 4. Poland 4. Panama 4. Morocco 4.Republicof theMarshall 5. Malaysia 5. Qatar 5. Ireland 5. Columbia 5. Nigeria 5. Tonga Europe Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 116,683 117,222 138,021 144,836 145,129 145,388 144,912 144,617 142,924 141,318 140,982 138,303 2024 Israel 2,070 persons Republic of Korea 1,484 persons Arrangement of Agencies 2,636 persons 385 persons 2,078 persons 183 persons 559 persons 2,945 persons Arrangement of DOE Arrangement of Employers Self-Arrangement Training Channels RE-ENTRY 1. 4. 2. 5. 3. 6. Elementary Occupations Factory Workers Agricultural and Fishery Workers Craft and Related Trades and Workers 2,206 persons 1,902 persons 1,811 persons 1,318 persons Services and Sales Workers 647 persons 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2023 2024 8,555 8,588 7,879 8,974 8,678 11,001 13,282 7,078 7,244 7,363 6,864 7,054 8,118 8,076 6,877 9,512 7,608 8,152 8,294 7,094 7,380 7,042 8,145 8,786 1,732 persons YoY 641 persons +24.55% MoM +7.87%Unit : Person Unit : Person Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Demand for Thai workers employed overseas 3. In December 2024, employers/companies reported a total demand of 642 Thai workers employed overseas through agencies and DOE. Of these, 262 were male (40.81%), 7 were female (1.09%), and gender was not specified for 373 persons (58.10%). The most in-demand job was flight attendants with 300 persons (46.73%), followed by labourers with 62 persons (9.66%) and carpenters with 51 persons (7.94%). The countries that were in-demand for Thai workers included 389 persons (60.55%) going to Hongkong, followed by 129 persons (20.09%) to Israel and 72 persons (11.21%) going to Taiwan. The most in-demand continents was Asian countries with 513 persons (79.91%) and Middle East countries with 129 persons (20.09%). 4 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation Source : Overseas Employment Administration Division Top five occupations in-demand for Thai workers Top five countries in-demand for Thai workers Flight attendants Labourers Tilers Carpenters Receptionists 300 persons 62 persons 41 persons 51 persons 37 persons 1. 2. 4. 3. 5. Hongkong 389 persons 129 persons 72 persons 27 persons 13 persons Taiwan Israel Republic of Korea Japan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Top occupations in-demand for Thai workers classified by continents Top five industries in-demand for Thai workers 2. Labourers 1. Flight attendants 2. Tilers 3. Receptionists 3. Plasterers 4. Head of food Service and beverages 4. Blacksmiths 1. Carpenters 5. Butler Asia 513 persons Middle East 129 persons Construction Hotel Argricultural and Fishery Workers Production of metal products Airline 300 persons 198 persons 85 persons 22 persons 11 persons 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Top 5
Labour Immigration : Foreign Workers 737,300 persons YoY 296 persons 10,284 persons 2,720 persons +28.21% MoM -0.01% MoM +5.23% 4. As of December 2024,there were 3,350,673 foreign workers in Thailand, consisting of 3,064,021 general workers (Myanmar, Laotian, Cambodian and Vietnamese) (91.44%), 192,290 skilled foreign workers (5.74%), and 94,362 minorities/lifetime worker permits (2.82%). In December 2024, 54,737 new foreign workers were permitted to work, classified as: 32,360 persons of MOU (23.67%), 12,958 persons of Daily or Seasonal workers (12.09%), 6,620 persons of General type (12.09%), 1,532 persons of Minorities group (2.80%) and 1,267 persons of BOI (2.31%). 5 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation Stock of foreign workers Stock of foreign workers by groups Flow of foreign workers Flow of foreign workers by types Foreign workers 3,350,673 persons Skilled Labour Lifetime Minorities General Labour 192,290 persons 5 persons 94,357 persons 3,064,021 persons General BOI 131,584 persons 60,706 persons Act59 (MoU) Act 64 (Seasonal workers) Cabinet Resolution 7 Feb 23 Cabinet Resolution 3 Oct 23 635,113 persons 44,771 persons 1,570,268 persons 813,869 persons General type BOI Minorities group Daily or Seasonal Workers MOU 6,620 persons 1,267 persons 1,532 persons 12,958 persons 32,360 persons 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Managers Technicians Elementary Occupations Agriculture and Livestock Manufacturing Professionals Managers Service Workers Manufacturing Wholesale/Retail Technicians Professionals Craft Workers Construction Top 3 occupation groups Top 3 occupation groups 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 2,292 persons 468 persons 1,052 persons 9,170 คน 10,626 คน 1,966 persons 410 persons 203 persons 2,319 คน 8,085 คน 315 persons 144 persons 103 persons 664- คน 5,238 คน Top 3 occupation groups Top 3 industry sectors Top 3 industry sectors Source: Foreign Workers Administration Office YoY -15.82% 12,145 14,332 11,096 36,851 55,420 54,091 58,782 66,090 68,427 67,938 62,878 77,012 65,021 25,525 65,390 56,067 57,527 54,418 67,636 62,788 62,820 51,522 52,017 54,737 2023 2024 Unit : Person 2023 2024 Unit : Person Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Wholesale 3,310,090 2,745,967 2,743,673 2,744,631 2,745,773 2,745,223 2,766,997 2,593,450 2,593,439 2,592,028 2,605,231 2,613,373 3,415,774 3,289,536 3,313,425 3,320,658 3,329,742 3,342,990 3,346,665 3,353,824 3,348,080 3,350,969 3,350,673 3,326,034
5. Investment Situation In December 2024, 141 industrial factories received permission to operate their businesses, a decline of 23.78% year-on-year (YoY). These factories created 3,917 jobs, with 2,470 male employees (63.06%) and 1,447 female employees (36.94%). The total investment amounted to 11,327.25 million baht, a decline of 56.08% YoY. Bangkok and its surrounding areas had the highest number of approved factories, with 45 factories, creating 1,787 jobs (45.62% of total employment) 6 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation Source : Department of Industrial Works New permission Expansion Closure 141 factories 31 factories 78 factories Top 3 Top 3 Top 3 1. Production of concrete products 3. Production of concrete products 1. Production of concrete products 2. Treatment and disposal of waste 2. Treatment and disposal of waste 2. Gravel and sand mining 3. Gravel and sand mining 1. Production of plastic products 3. Sand suction Total factory permission, business expansion, and closure Total employment, and dismissals Factory size Small Industrial Factories Medium Industrial Factories (employees exceed 50 but do not exceed 200) Large Industrial Factories Number of industrial factories Investment (million bahts) Employment (employees) Total Male Female (employees exceed 200) (employees do not exceed 50) Total 126 8,861.82 2,069 1,429 640 14 1,784.44 1,579 923 656 1 680.99 269 118 151 141 11,327.25 3,917 2,470 1,447 145 156 191 163 171 183 186 183 257 171 165 141 25 30 50 34 45 46 48 45 49 46 38 31 91 116 160 100 100 100 90 95 99 107 98 78 Total factory permission Total business expansion Total closure Unit : Industrial factories 3,403 Total employment Total dismissal Unit : Person 3,534 10,557 5,676 2,592 3,330 4,144 2,733 9,836 2,543 5,609 2,332 5,091 5,034 7,871 2,623 8,355 2,495 7,315 2,254 4,725 2,795 3,917 2,239 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number of industrial factories, total investment, and employment
Labour Force : Thai Labour Force Survey Persons aged 15 and over (59.32 million) 4.48 million 4.51 million Employed : Unemployed : 6.37 million 0.035 million Unemployment rate : 0.5% Northern 9.35 million 5.65 million 0.042 million 0.053 million Northeastern Bangkok 13.75 million 5.21 million 0.129 million 0.060 million Central Southern Total Labour Force Persons not in labour force 40.77 million 6. According to the National Statistical Office survey in December 2024, there were 59.32 million persons aged 15 and over. Among these, 40.77 million persons were in the labour force, with 40.33 million persons employed, 3.19 hundred thousand persons unemployed (0.8% unemployment rate), and 0.12 million persons were seasonally inactive labour force. 7 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation Population structure Employed persons by occupation groups Employed and Unemployed Persons classified by Regions Education levels Source : National Statistical Office 18.55 million Current labourforce Employed persons Seasonally inactive 40.56million 40.33 million 0.12 million Unemployedpersons 0.32 million Household work Students Others 9.56 million Employed Persons MoM -0.22% MoM -16.71% YoY -0.62% Dec 23 : 40.13 million Nov 24 : 40.42 million YoY +0.50% Agriculture Non-Agriculture 12.14 million 28.19 million 1. 3. 2. 4. 5. 6. Wholesale/Retail Hotel & Restaurant Transportation Construction Government Administration Manufacturing 6.65 3.38 1.66 6.63 2.28 1.54 Top 6 Non-Agriculture (Unit : million persons) Without work experience Having work experiences 0.151 million 0.168 million Higher Education 0.058 million 0.021 million 0.043 million 0.003 million 0.024 million 0.002 million Vocational Upper Secondary Lower Secondary Primary lower primary* * Included no education/lower primary and unknown Education Levels Manufacturing Service/Trade 0.027 million 0.045 million 0.096 million Managers Professionals Technicians Clerical support workers Service workers Agriculture/Fishery Craft workers Plant operators Elementary occupations Dec 2023 Dec 2024 Unit : million persons 1.17 2.20 1.67 1.92 8.52 11.60 4.32 4.26 4.47 1.15 2.10 1.61 1.80 8.55 10.92 4.45 4.57 5.18 6.73 9.41 7.11 6.39 4.02 6.67 0.10 0.45 0.34 0.85 0.54 0.91 Incomplete Primary Primary Lower Secondary Upper Secondary Vocational Higher Education Number of Employed persons (Unit : million persons) Number of Unemployed persons (Unit : hundred thousand persons) 10.00 3.60 3.30 8.00 3.00 2.70 2.40 1.80 6.00 2.10 4.00 1.50 2.00 0.90 0.60 0.30 1.20 0.00 0.00 million persons hundred thousandpersons Employed : Employed : Unemployed : Unemployed : Unemployment rate : 0.9% Unemployment rate : 1.1% Employed : Unemployed : Unemployment rate : 0.4% Employed : Unemployed : Unemployment rate : 0.9% (40.33 million) Unemployed Persons (0.319 million, 0.8% unemployment rate) Dec 23 : 0.321 million Nov 24 : 0.383 million Agriculture * Others : Young, Elderly, Illness, Retirement, Disability incapable of work
End of contract Dismissal Resignation Registration of Unemployment Insurers 7. In December 2024, there were 67,292 registered insured persons from unemployment via the DOE. This number had increased from the previous year by 4,535 persons (7.23%). The group consisted of 31,123 males (46.25%) and 36,169 females (53.75%). The majority resigned (77.70%), with reasons including changing jobs, self-employment, respite, or due to sickness. 8 I The Country’s Overall Labour Market Situation The Registered Persons in December 2024 (67,292 persons) The number of insured persons in case of unemployment monthly from 2023-2024 The number of insured persons in case of unemployment, classified by regions Resignation Dismissal End of contract 52,285 persons 12,513 persons 2,494 persons (77.70%) (18.60%) (3.70%) Female 29,124 persons Female 1,323 persons Female 5,722 persons Male 23,161 persons Male 1,171 persons Male 6,791 persons (55.70%) (53.05%) (45.73%) (44.30%) (46.95%) (54.27%) Causes of resignation Changing jobs 27,542 persons Self-employment 14,045 persons Respite 5,565 persons Sickness 5,133 persons 1. 2. 3. 4. Causes of dismissal Staff reduction 5,784 persons Termination of contract 4,209 persons Out of business 2,520 persons 1. 2. 3. Source : DOE Data Center, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour 2023 2024 Unit : Person 2,303 9,546 3,082 13,402 2,794 11,751 2,817 11,589 3,674 10,632 2,947 9,587 7,477 14,475 4,223 14,254 2,494 12,513 2,820 10,384 2,817 10,554 2,568 11,625 2,732 12,763 50,908 66,857 71,691 70,761 70,095 73,097 69,335 62,127 52,285 75,058 69,257 62,830 66,286 Northern 5,375 persons Northeastern 6,083 persons Western 4,859 persons Bangkok 23,703 persons Southern 5,261 persons Resignation 4,600 persons 5,150 persons 4,015 persons 18,242 persons 4,390 persons 537 persons 679 persons 690 persons 4,683 persons 649 persons 238 persons 254 persons 154 persons 778 persons 222 persons Dismissal End of contract Central 11,856 persons 9,054 persons 2,417 persons 385 persons Eastern 10,155 persons 6,834 persons 2,858 persons 463 persons Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 4,535 persons YoY 13,312 persons +7.23% MoM -16.52% Resignation Dismissal End of contract Resignation Dismissal End of contract Resignation Dismissal End of contract Resignation Dismissal End of contract Resignation Dismissal End of contract Resignation Dismissal End of contract
Thai Labour Market Journal Feedback Organizers Somchai Morakotsriwan Sipmuenchai Pothisin Mongkol Songkram Wichit Intharajaroen Suchitra Khajonkidakarn Nuttanun Rojanaprapop Piyanooch Buapen Nadsitang Phawadee Supalerk Karnchom Wasuthorn Phurieksuwan Nuttasit Mitkaew Ampawan Chaona Saroat Phungneat Thitima Ninpurk Angkana Wandao Director-General, Department of Employment Deputy Director-General, Department of Employment Deputy Director-General, Department of Employment Deputy Director-General, Department of Employment Director, Labour Market Information Administration Division Labour Specialist, Professional Level Labour Specialist, Professional Level Labour Specialist, Practitioner Level Labour Specialist, Practitioner Level Labour Specialist, Practitioner Level Statistician Labour Specialist Labour Specialist Labour Specialist Labour Officer Labour Market Information Administration Division Consultants Authors Translator