About 900,000 university graduates are likely to be jobless

[bwpage3]

All the joking aside, mass unemployment can lead to civil unrest, such as Thailand is already beginning to see.

 

Civil unrest is not good for anyone, including the expats that live there.

 

 

[rickudon]

I think 'University' is a rather loose term in Thailand. It also includes the local Rajabhat's (which provide courses in catering etc.) and technical colleges. So i think 450-500,000 a year is correct.

My nephew graduated in March (technical college) and had a job lined up, government related, and was meant to start in June - still waiting for the job to start (told funds were delayed so recruitment on hold). Fortunately he has part-time work in the wife's shop so not desperate - yet. A niece will finish college in a few months, so will be one of the 900,000 as well.

[Venom]

2 hours ago, Mike k said:

It would be easier than farm labor at 250 to 300 a day 

True, and don't need to go into debt for university degree for that. I guess they should be thankful. ????

[choudens]

Due to Covid only? Really? 

[choudens]

This is 900,000 more on the mob flash!!

[geisha]

Every thing points to a crisis, and as a financial newspaper said 

“a debt tsunami”.  Only the strongest government will come through, and the Thai government is not one of them.

[bodga]

8 hours ago, Mike k said:

It would be easier than farm labor at 250 to 300 a day 

bwharrrrrrrrr ha  ha try  500  a  day

[connda]

I guess it's time for more Covid-19 lockdowns.  They haven't generated at global Great Depression yet.  Just think 7 billion serfs and indentured servants who own nothing and to be allow to work or earn enough digital credits to be allow to eat must genuflect at the alter of the World Economic Forum and its billionaire priests of Technocracy. 

[connda]

Round up all those democracy protesters and put them into forced labor camps.  That will take care of the problem.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Andy from Kent said:

 

No disrespect intended and I realize 500 THB a day is more than the minimum, but I think a university graduate is likely  to aspire to something more  financially rewarding than 500฿/day.   Personally,   I'd choose to keep looking.

As long as not expecting other people to give them money while they look elsewhere, that's their right. It's not the taxpayer's responsibility to support people that choose the wrong subjects at uni and can't get a job of their choosing.

[metisdead]

A post using a trolling image has been removed. 

[DualSportBiker]

On 11/25/2020 at 9:05 PM, rickudon said:

I think 'University' is a rather loose term in Thailand. It also includes the local Rajabhat's (which provide courses in catering etc.) and technical colleges. So i think 450-500,000 a year is correct.

My nephew graduated in March (technical college) and had a job lined up, government related, and was meant to start in June - still waiting for the job to start (told funds were delayed so recruitment on hold). Fortunately he has part-time work in the wife's shop so not desperate - yet. A niece will finish college in a few months, so will be one of the 900,000 as well.

Again, were you to look up the publicly available data and not simply think for yourself (and get it wrong) you'd see that they separate all the levels of education. Unis have their own separate count as do technical colleges, undergrads, post-grad and doctorate...

 

[rickudon]

On 11/27/2020 at 9:57 AM, DualSportBiker said:

Again, were you to look up the publicly available data and not simply think for yourself (and get it wrong) you'd see that they separate all the levels of education. Unis have their own separate count as do technical colleges, undergrads, post-grad and doctorate...

 

Yes, i estimated - and was pretty close I think. That table doesn't seem to have rajabhat separately. About 1.7-2.1 million on undergraduate courses so how many graduate each year? About 650,000 ?

[DualSportBiker]

17 hours ago, rickudon said:

Yes, i estimated - and was pretty close I think. That table doesn't seem to have rajabhat separately. About 1.7-2.1 million on undergraduate courses so how many graduate each year? About 650,000 ?

That's what the numbers say...

[teacherclaire]

I've just read a FB job offer where a restaurant owner is seeking an employee.

 

It's a restaurant at Silom road, Soi 4. 

 

  Starting salary 12 to 15 K, but it will increase. The job is easy,  being the cashier and it comes with Thai social security and two free meals.

 

  Should anybody know a jobless Thai, please page me.

 

  The biggest problem might be that the new employee should be able to speak English. Not too many of them do, which is sad. 

 

  

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/25/2020 at 2:00 AM, snoop1130 said:

said Thanit, as he recommended that they learn new skills and look for alternative careers,

IMO many young people have been fooled into thinking uni is going to get them a high paying job that they can start at the top.

Same in many countries. Can't get a plumber or an electrician that doesn't charge the earth because the kids that should have been in apprenticeships went to uni to get a degree in "media studies" or some such nonsense.

 

It's all coming back to bite people on the nether regions. Meanwhile the politicians that seduced the youth into uni rather than trades walk away without penalty, IMO.

[teacherclaire]

59 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO many young people have been fooled into thinking uni is going to get them a high paying job that they can start at the top.

Same in many countries. Can't get a plumber or an electrician that doesn't charge the earth because the kids that should have been in apprenticeships went to uni to get a degree in "media studies" or some such nonsense.

 

It's all coming back to bite people on the nether regions. Meanwhile the politicians that seduced the youth into uni rather than trades walk away without penalty, IMO.

A friend of mine is married to a uni graduate in business. Unfortunately, does she need a calculator to add two and four. Best World Class Standard Education.

 

    Leave the CL at class out and you have the real situation. 

[teacherclaire]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO many young people have been fooled into thinking uni is going to get them a high paying job that they can start at the top.

Same in many countries. Can't get a plumber or an electrician that doesn't charge the earth because the kids that should have been in apprenticeships went to uni to get a degree in "media studies" or some such nonsense.

 

It's all coming back to bite people on the nether regions. Meanwhile the politicians that seduced the youth into uni rather than trades walk away without penalty, IMO.

But please be honest. You do like to look at the short skirted ones with tight blouses, right? 

[quake]

14 minutes ago, teacherclaire said:

But please be honest. You do like to look at the short skirted ones with tight blouses, right? 

We all need something for encouragement in the shower in the morning. 

[greeneking]

3 hours ago, teacherclaire said:

I've just read a FB job offer where a restaurant owner is seeking an employee.

 

It's a restaurant at Silom road, Soi 4. 

 

  Starting salary 12 to 15 K, but it will increase. The job is easy,  being the cashier and it comes with Thai social security and two free meals.

 

  Should anybody know a jobless Thai, please page me.

 

  The biggest problem might be that the new employee should be able to speak English. Not too many of them do, which is sad. 

 

  

I do know a clever lady looking for work like this. English speaking and experienced in many areas of restaurant work.

But she can not get these jobs because she is 37 year's old.

[Albert Zweistein]

On 11/24/2020 at 2:16 PM, madmitch said:

With a population of nearly 70 million that's perfectly feasible.

How graduate means graduated in LOL ?

[Solinvictus]

On 11/25/2020 at 9:06 AM, AlfHuy said:

Offer them all a government job.

Safe and secure.

 

Nice comment. This is exactly what should be happening. Especially in the States. Federal Works Program.

 

The wealthy / capitalist class would rather have the way it is now..

[scorecard]

13 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO many young people have been fooled into thinking uni is going to get them a high paying job that they can start at the top.

Same in many countries. Can't get a plumber or an electrician that doesn't charge the earth because the kids that should have been in apprenticeships went to uni to get a degree in "media studies" or some such nonsense.

 

It's all coming back to bite people on the nether regions. Meanwhile the politicians that seduced the youth into uni rather than trades walk away without penalty, IMO.

 

"

 

Unfortunately true for some graduates. Some discussion about this with final year students (E.g. in business) reveals that some Thai professors tell students things like this, often emphasizing that uni graduates have higher social status and should therefore automatically have managerial positions. Or out it another way 'I paid a lot of money to get my degree so automatically  my employer must give me higher position/higher salary.

[scorecard]

Just now, scorecard said:

 

"

 

Unfortunately true for some graduates. Some discussion about this with final year students (E.g. in business) reveals that some Thai professors / their families tell students things like this, often emphasizing that uni graduates have higher social status and should therefore automatically have managerial positions. Or put it another way 'I paid a lot of money to get my degree so automatically  my employer must give me higher position/higher salary to get me out of debt - my entitlement'.

 

 

 

 

 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

"

 

Unfortunately true for some graduates. Some discussion about this with final year students (E.g. in business) reveals that some Thai professors tell students things like this, often emphasizing that uni graduates have higher social status and should therefore automatically have managerial positions. Or out it another way 'I paid a lot of money to get my degree so automatically  my employer must give me higher position/higher salary.

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

I'm also aware that many Thai and foreign companies (many Japanese) are very unhappy with the commitment, attitude performance of many new young graduates. Examples: 'can't converse/discuss (not meaning language issues)', 'explain the work several times and still mistakes in process/result', 'Late again, you've been warned about this many times', 'but it's not fair the traffic is so bad / my mum said it's OK' and more, 'Why are you using your mobile phone, you've ben told before you must leave your phone in your locker, you cannot bring your phone to your workplace. Do you see other employees around you using mobile phones?' 'But I have to update my fb page and I can listen to my friends on my phone and listen to you at the same time' ' But it's OK because I can listen to my friends and use a keyboard at the same time to do my work'. 'I did the work you gave me, so I won't to go home now.' "no cannot go home, you start work at 8.30 and finish at 5.00 pm then you can go home, it's all in your your employment contract', 'Have you read your employment contracts carefully?' 'No, I don't like reading documents, you can ask my dad'. 'Why did you change to a desk on the next floor?' 'Because I discovered my old friend is working on this floor so I moved here.' 'Did you ask your supervisor first?' 'No because I'm a graduate so it's up to me'. 'Why didn't you put the completed documents on my (supervisors) desk?' 'I'm a graduate so you don't need to check my work. And many many more...

 

Companies regularly complain to universities that 'graduates are not ready to work.' Many unis raise this with Thai professors, who mostly don't listen 'not my responsibility', Many farang pofessors try to talk to their students about this and explain 'working is not like going to school or to uni'. Many professors give up when they realize that the students are absolutely not listening and not going to ever listen. 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

I'm also aware that many Thai and foreign companies (many Japanese) are very unhappy with the commitment, attitude performance of many new young graduates. Examples: 'can't converse/discuss (not meaning language issues)', 'explain the work several times and still mistakes in process/result', 'Late again, you've been warned about this many times', 'but it's not fair the traffic is so bad / my mum said it's OK' and more, 'Why are you using your mobile phone, you've ben told before you must leave your phone in your locker, you cannot bring your phone to your workplace. Do you see other employees around you using mobile phones?' 'But I have to update my fb page and I can listen to my friends on my phone and listen to you at the same time' ' But it's OK because I can listen to my friends and use a keyboard at the same time to do my work'. 'I did the work you gave me, so I won't to go home now.' "no cannot go home, you start work at 8.30 and finish at 5.00 pm then you can go home, it's all in your your employment contract', 'Have you read your employment contracts carefully?' 'No, I don't like reading documents, you can ask my dad'. 'Why did you change to a desk on the next floor?' 'Because I discovered my old friend is working on this floor so I moved here.' 'Did you ask your supervisor first?' 'No because I'm a graduate so it's up to me'. 'Why didn't you put the completed documents on my (supervisors) desk?' 'I'm a graduate so you don't need to check my work. And many many more...

 

Companies regularly complain to universities that 'graduates are not ready to work.' Many unis raise this with Thai professors, who mostly don't listen 'not my responsibility', Many farang pofessors try to talk to their students about this and explain 'working is not like going to school or to uni'. Many professors give up when they realize that the students are absolutely not listening and not going to ever listen. 

Further, 

I've tried to talk about this to classes (both bachelor and masters degree levels) with Thai and exchange students (many from Germany, some from France, Denmark, Singapore and Korea etc.) 

 

The Thai students are very obviously bored. The exchange students especially from Germany and Singapore, but also the country countries, ask many specific / good questions. When this happens 99/100% of the Thai students just sit and ignore the discussion. 

 

I ask them 'do you realize that you will have to sometimes create answers to problems? And it's not like high school where the teacher gives you the answer to everything.'  'Do you realize that you will have to produce some form of output and within a stated deadline time?  Several times I've had the response WHY?

 

My answer always 'the boss/company is paying you a salary and giving you some other benefits, the company therefore wants some output/some value for the expects you to produce something.' 

 

One of my farang professor buddies had the same conversation , ne very over-confident Thai girl responded loudly 'I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'. She had previously been rude to many professors and to other students many times.

 

Perhaps 18 months after she graduated she came to the campus and waited around until she found her professor walking in a corridor.

 

She stopped the professor and said she wanted to talk to him. The prof. said 'not now, I'm just going to another class.' She responded 'but you have to help me'. Professor told her to wait in the corridor near the professors lounge at 4.30pm or similar.

 

She turned up at 6.30pm just as the professor was leaving the campus to go home. She tried to insist that he speak to her then and there. He told her come back tomorrow.

 

She did and started the conversation with 'I can't get a job using my degree, I was working as a waitress/cleaner in a small coffee shop but the owner sacked me a few days ago.

 

Prof. asked 'why did the coffee shop owner sack you?' Girl's response 'She's just too serious, I have to be at work at exactly the right time but I want to meet friends before work and I often get there 30/40 minutes late. I promise to make up the time at the end of the day but she won't agree, she's not fair.' (And it turned out the coffee shop closed at 5.00pm and owner and all staff left and went home etc., so working late to make up the time was not possible.) 

 

Given the girls previous lack of class attendance, always late sometimes 2 or 3 hours late, rudeness, had to be told again and again to turn her phone off, her attempted demands that the professor teach her the lesson she had missed in the morning at lunch time, pleas for her pleas to many professors to change her poor grades and more, the professor stopped the conversation and told her to leave. 

[stereolab]

On 11/24/2020 at 8:16 PM, madmitch said:

With a population of nearly 70 million that's perfectly feasible.

Feasible, but ultimately pointless exercise in training so many.

[teacherclaire]

19 hours ago, quake said:

We all need something for encouragement in the shower in the morning. 

Well, I knew hard times would come.  ????????

[AlfHuy]

11 minutes ago, teacherclaire said:

Well, I knew hard times would come.  ????????

Yes, Covid makes it harder for everyone.

[teacherclaire]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Further, 

I've tried to talk about this to classes (both bachelor and masters degree levels) with Thai and exchange students (many from Germany, some from France, Denmark, Singapore and Korea etc.) 

 

The Thai students are very obviously bored. The exchange students especially from Germany and Singapore, but also the country countries, ask many specific / good questions. When this happens 99/100% of the Thai students just sit and ignore the discussion. 

 

I ask them 'do you realize that you will have to sometimes create answers to problems? And it's not like high school where the teacher gives you the answer to everything.'  'Do you realize that you will have to produce some form of output and within a stated deadline time?  Several times I've had the response WHY?

 

My answer always 'the boss/company is paying you a salary and giving you some other benefits, the company therefore wants some output/some value for the expects you to produce something.' 

 

One of my farang professor buddies had the same conversation , ne very over-confident Thai girl responded loudly 'I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'. She had previously been rude to many professors and to other students many times.

 

Perhaps 18 months after she graduated she came to the campus and waited around until she found her professor walking in a corridor.

 

She stopped the professor and said she wanted to talk to him. The prof. said 'not now, I'm just going to another class.' She responded 'but you have to help me'. Professor told her to wait in the corridor near the professors lounge at 4.30pm or similar.

 

She turned up at 6.30pm just as the professor was leaving the campus to go home. She tried to insist that he speak to her then and there. He told her come back tomorrow.

 

She did and started the conversation with 'I can't get a job using my degree, I was working as a waitress/cleaner in a small coffee shop but the owner sacked me a few days ago.

 

Prof. asked 'why did the coffee shop owner sack you?' Girl's response 'She's just too serious, I have to be at work at exactly the right time but I want to meet friends before work and I often get there 30/40 minutes late. I promise to make up the time at the end of the day but she won't agree, she's not fair.' (And it turned out the coffee shop closed at 5.00pm and owner and all staff left and went home etc., so working late to make up the time was not possible.) 

 

Given the girls previous lack of class attendance, always late sometimes 2 or 3 hours late, rudeness, had to be told again and again to turn her phone off, her attempted demands that the professor teach her the lesson she had missed in the morning at lunch time, pleas for her pleas to many professors to change her poor grades and more, the professor stopped the conversation and told her to leave. 

 

   

A great post. Thank you. 

   

I've had plenty of such students at high school. They don't understand that nothing is free in this world.

 

But I never had any issues with American, German, or any other exchange students.

 

Could it be possible that some of them believe that they can come and go when they want?

 

 But growing up with all these Map Phen Rai attitudes doesn't help them either. 

Some teachers still do the same old "copy the passage into your notebook lesson".

 

And it's time that students fail and repeat the class once more.

 

If he/she fails again, there must be schools for special needs where some students should be. 

But a filled wallet opens too many doors in the Land of Whys..