Research - Education & Job Trends in Thailand

Research Launch: Education & Job Trends in Thailand

Looking for a better life

Despite the financial crisis that erupted this year, every seventeenth Thai has recently changed his job on his own free will. About 84% of respondents plan to change their place of work in the nearest future.

In the fall of 2020 the international staffing company ANCOR conducted an online study "Education and job", with 923 respondents from different regions of Thailand taking part in it. It turned out that the situation in the labor market, when the conditions are dictated by the employer, and competition for jobs is growing, does not stop Thai people from looking for a better job.

Studied "for love”...

Interest and involvement in the profession is a determining factor in choosing the sphere of education. Answering the question about the criteria for choosing education 49% of interviewees picked “interest in the field of activity”, 24% - hoped for the opportunity to apply for interesting work, 20% - chose education based on their own inclinations and only 17% considered high salaries as the determining factor of job choice.

Faizan Ahmed, Head of Human Resources & Admin at ANCOR Thailand says: "Today we live in a time where we have moved away from traditional gender-specific roles in terms of employment as we all as family traditions/ backgrounds playing a fundamental part in deciding which fields people select to make their careers in. I believe that candidates are more aware of their own potential, seek out employers and roles that best fit their own personal aspirations as well as looking at the future. This is fairly evident in the results that the research has produced as the majority of respondents indicated that it was their own personal interest in the field which prompted them to select that employer/ role. The future aspect is critical as through digitization we are globally in a place where organizations and jobs are changing to be more efficient, agile and have a higher level of productivity."

83% of respondents believe that work and self-realization should be connected, and only 16% say that it is not necessary, but great, " when one can realize potential at work." Far-sighted employers have long offered employees various options for self-realization, which are not even necessarily connected with their direct activities. The main task of the business is to find a balance between work and personal life: the creative self-realization of employees should not interfere with work, but ideally - help productivity.

... working for money

But in practice, “heart’s aim” does not always withstand the test of strength. While receiving an education most of the respondents - 48% - expected to work in the future in their specialty. At the same time, only 38% were able to eventually accomplish it. Choosing a job 62% of applicants are interested in the amount of salary, 42% - in career growth. Only 9% take into account the possibility of their own self-realization.

Faizan Ahmed comments: "This is an interesting insight as in most research conducted worldwide the primary reasons for seeking new employment/ employers are usually related to the direct supervisor, the way or working within the organization and the team itself. In the research, we discovered that remuneration seems to be the primary driver at 62% for seeking new employment, followed by career progressions and work-life balance. While the results may state or indicate at remuneration, there are always internal underlying reasons for why employees may look outward to seek employment with different employers. There are various factors that contribute in this aspect including a clear engagement of the employee with the organizational direction, values and culture".

Ready to learn

The idea that education becomes a continuous process throughout life gradually takes root in the heads of the workers. 21% of the survey participants have been studying from March up to the present, 39% plan to study in the near future, 28% are receiving additional education independently, of one's own choosing.

Faizan Ahmed notes: "Education and re-skilling has been a huge focus for both organizations as well as employees. There has been a clear realization that there is a constant need to develop additional skill sets, re-skill/ upgrade current skills and educate yourself in diverse areas to be able to have that value addition in current and future assignments. The pandemic has also been a key driver in this perspective as its caused businesses to re-look at their current business models and develop a more agile and effective models to drive business irrespective of external environmental factors. This has also pushed the people development agenda in a similar direction where new skills and certifications may be required to remain relevant and continue to drive results in these dynamic organizations".