On August 24, 2021, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, revealed that the COVID-19 situation from 2020 to the present had affected businesses and jobs worldwide. Thailand has been affected by employment in tourism and service businesses. Still, the manufacturing and export sectors, especially in the automotive, electronic circuit board, medical equipment, and frozen food industries, have a great demand for workers. This is because many countries are unable to export products. The government under the leadership of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has not been inactive. It gives great importance to workers looking for a job, especially new graduates impacted by COVID-19. Therefore, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin has ordered the Department of Employment to source vacancies from both the private and public sectors to support.
Mrs. Theanrat said that there were 575,230 new graduates in 2020, comprising 140,755 vocational certificates, 122,585 high school diplomas, and 311,890 at the bachelor’s degrees level. An estimated434,475 people are looking for work, whereby 316,636 are already employed. A total of 230,661 people are employed in the private sector’s social security system, divided into other types of businesses, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, accommodations and food services, and construction. There are 85,975 new graduates employed in the government sector under the Government Loan Act, consisting of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Labour. The remaining number of new graduates who wish to have a job but do not have a job is 179,161, most of whom are likely to apply for further studies, especially for vocational certificates and self-employment. In 2021, 165,625 new graduates were employed in the private sector, divided into manufacturing, wholesale and retail, construction and real estate, and other fields, mostly based in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, and Pathum Thani. There were another 58,452 new graduates employed in the government sector under the Government Loan Act from the project to enhance the economy and society in each sub-district (1 sub-district, one university) by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. The Cabinet has approved the employment of 10,000 special government employees to help those affected by the COVID-19 situation. A total amount of over 2,200 million Baht will be open to new graduates with a bachelor’s degree.
Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin also instructed the Department of Employment to prepare vacancies for new graduates (in the age range 18-25 years old) for 230,288 people. A total of 160,486 new graduates have applied for jobs, whereby 110,273 people have been recruited, whereby 5,346 people are traveling to work abroad (IMM project) for 115,619 jobs. It was also found that some new graduates are interested in working as freelancers.
The Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment and the government have measures to support new graduates. Initiatives include recruitment services at provincial employment offices across the country, providing self-service through the online system at the Thai job site www.doe.go.th, meeting workers events, promoting self-employment and funding sources, promoting work from home, sending Thai workers to work abroad, new employment promotion programs for new graduates by the public and private sectors, as well as hiring specialized government employees across the country following support measures from the government.
“The government and the Ministry of Labour have measures to help new graduates get jobs to enter the labour market effectively and simultaneously supports companies to continue their business. The Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment is accelerating to find more vacancies to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and those looking for work to support the labour market in the future,” concluded Mrs. Theanrat.
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Division of Public Relations
24 August 2021
