Thai Workforce Faces Decline Amid Low Birth Rates, Experts Warn

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AP file photo

 

Thailand is on the brink of a demographic challenge as experts sound the alarm over the country's plummeting birth rate and its potential repercussions on the workforce.

 

At the forefront of this call to action is Chalermpol Chamchan, the director of Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research, who warns that without intervention, this trend could significantly shrink Thailand's workforce.

 

Amidst a backdrop of sobering statistics, Thailand's population was recorded at 65,951,210 as of December last year, according to the Bureau of Registration Administration.

 

Yet, the country saw only 462,240 births in 2023—a stark drop below the half-million mark for the first time since 1949, marking four consecutive years where deaths outnumbered births. This is a sharp contrast to the period between 1963 and 1983, when the country experienced over one million births annually.

 

The Thai government's "Give Birth, Great World" campaign, initiated in 2023 by the Ministry of Public Health, was designed to counter this decline by encouraging young couples to start families.

Unfortunately, the campaign hasn't yet turned the tide, and Chalermpol urges the government to reassess and enhance these initiatives to make a genuine impact.

 

Thailand's situation is unique in Southeast Asia, being the only nation in the region experiencing such a birth rate decline, a trend more commonly associated with high-income, developed countries.

 

The total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 1.0 last year, even lower than Japan's 1.2, placing Thailand among nations with ultra-low fertility rates, alongside South Korea and Singapore.

 

Looking ahead, the implications of these statistics are daunting. Thailand's population could dwindle to just 40 million within the next 50 years, equating to a loss of about one million people every two years.

 

This demographic shift could drastically impact the country's labour force, potentially reducing it to 22.8 million workers in five decades if the current trajectory remains unchanged.

 

A survey by the Institute for Population and Social Research highlights the gravity of the situation, with about 71% of respondents aged 28 and older recognising the declining birth rate as a critical issue, reported Bangkok Post.

 

However, just 35.8% of these individuals intend to have children, while 30% remain undecided. Chalermpol suggests that with appropriate support mechanisms, those on the fence might be swayed towards parenthood, offering a glimmer of hope for reversing the trend.

 

-- 2025-02-03