Thailand
Thailand: February sees 61,000 more unemployed
Thailand’s unemployment rose by 61,000 jobless workers in February from a year earlier, with bachelor’s degree holders maintaining the highest unemployment rate, according to the latest survey. The National Statistical Office reported on Thurday that 491,000 workers were left unemployed in February, representing 1.3% of the 38.42-million-strong workforce.
There were 329,000 workers awaiting seasonal work, according to the report.
In February of last year, the number of unemployed workers totalled 430,000, equivalent to 1.1% of the total workforce of 37.6 million at that time.
The statistics showed that bachelor’s degree holders accounted for the highest unemployment (177,000) in February this year, followed by those with junior high school certificates (115,000), high school (103,000), primary school (73,000) and lower primary school (19,000).
Compared with February 2016, unemployment for junior high school graduates increased by 52,000 people, and that of bachelor’s degree holders by 26,000, lower than primary school graduates, which rose by 1,000. Of the total 37.60 million workers employed, 11.27 million were in the farm sector and 26.33 million worked in non-farm sector.
Porametee Vimolsiri, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), said recently that overall employment is expected to improve this year in line with a stronger economy after the country’s workforce fell to 38.1 million last year from 38.26 million in 2016.
The government’s planning unit last month increased its export growth forecast to 6.8% from 5%, raising its GDP growth outlook to 3.6-4.6%, compared with 3.9% in 2017 and 3.3% in 2016.
This year’s economic growth will be supported by continued global economic growth, the expansion of government spending, the acceleration of public investment, a clearer private investment recovery and an improvement in household income conditions, Mr Porametee said.
The NESDB reported earlier this month that Thailand’s employment declined by 0.6% last year, driven by a 1% decline in the non-agricultural sector because of sluggish export growth in the first half of the year.
Despite an export pickup in the second half, employment in the manufacturing sector did not benefit significantly, as more firms adopted advanced production technologies.
Industries seeing improvements in employment were transport, warehouses, hotels and restaurants, thanks to expansion in tourism and online trade in the second half of 2017.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1433367/february-sees-61-000-more-unemployed