Thai Workforce Needs Foreign Skills: Academics Dismiss Job Fears

[webfact]

ASEAN NOW picture for reference only

 

Recent concerns over Chinese students in Thailand potentially outcompeting Thai graduates have been played down by leading academics. They argue that rather than edging out Thai job seekers, these students help plug the skills gap and enhance economic relations.

 

The debate sparked after Prof Supachai Pathumnakul from the Ministry of Higher Education shed light on Chinese investment in three Thai private universities. This led to fears about Chinese graduates competing against locals, particularly in companies requiring Chinese language proficiency.

 

The influx of Chinese students is largely due to China's limited university seats, prompting around two to three million students to study abroad annually. Thailand's lower cost of living makes it an attractive option, reflected in the fact that over half of the 53,000 foreign students in Thailand last year were Chinese.

 

Far from viewing them as competition, Prof Dr Buppa Lapawattnaphun regards Chinese students as facilitators, bridging Thai and Chinese labour markets. She notes that while Thai graduates might find it challenging to compete for positions in Chinese companies, they too gain advantageous prospects when returning to work for Thai firms with a Chinese presence.

Thailand's workforce, comprised of 38 million people, has only 22%—around 8.5 million workers—with university qualifications. Dr Thanawat Polvichai highlights this shortfall, emphasising the need for skilled foreign workers. Chinese graduates can fill this gap, contributing to sectors requiring expertise.

 

Dr Thanawat urges for a nuanced perspective, distinguishing between unskilled and skilled labour, noting the latter's scarcity remains a pressing issue in Thailand.

 

Saengchai Thirakulvanij from the Thai SMEs Federation sees an even broader role for these students. He suggests positioning Chinese graduates as ambassadors for both education and tourism. Planting a seed of affinity for Thailand could result in increased interest from family and friends in the Chinese students' networks, boosting Thai tourism indirectly.

 

Given Thailand's limited budget for workforce development, Chinese and other foreign graduates from local private universities can potentially fill job market gaps. Understanding this landscape, academics urge that instead of seeing Chinese students as a threat, Thai policymakers should leverage their presence to bolster the educational sector and economic resilience.

 

By embracing international students as partners rather than adversaries, Thailand can enhance its socio-economic fabric, while fostering closer ties with one of its largest neighbouring economies, reported The Nation.

 

-- 2025-02-25

 

 

[steven100]

A thai actually admitting they need foreign skills ...... 

 

well, I never would have guessed .....   I was under the impression that Thais know everything and they don't need any help.   

[kingstonkid]

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

A thai actually admitting they need foreign skills ...... 

 

well, I never would have guessed .....   I was under the impression that Thais know everything and they don't need any help.   

The politicians and the older people and elites know.

 

The school system and businesses have known for awhile that there is a lack of qualified people. The good thing or bad thing is tht we are not going to get the cream of the Chinese crop as they will still be taught in China.

 

This article should be shown to all Matayom students also it would be nice to know the universities that they are buying so we know how good they are or are not.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

This led to fears about Chinese graduates competing against locals, particularly in companies requiring Chinese language proficiency.

So return the investment and stop crying foul

[Thingamabob]

China is pretty much in charge in Thailand, increasingly so day by day.

[Sir Dude]

With the birth rate and demographic problems Thailand has, it's going to have to let go of this nationalistic and self-righteous nonsense on work in the kingdom... not going to fly. It's not just the falling numbers of younger people and workers, it's all those in the informal economy that don't whant a job that you pay tax on and just prefer to sit around being a micro-seller of convenience food or tat.