Jobless Numbers Up And Could Go Higher: Thailand

[webfact]

Jobless numbers up and could go higher, says NESDB

Suriyan Panyawai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unemployment has been rising in the wake of the 2011 flood crisis and the sharp hike in the minimum daily wage this year, according to National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) secretarygeneral Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

"Investment and manufacturing facilities have not expanded because of the hike in the minimum daily wage, which took effect in April," he said yesterday.

The flood crisis late last year had also forced many businesses to close down or suspend operations, he said.

"Many businesses are still unable to resume manufacturing," Arkhom said. Investors were also concerned about the Eurosovereign debt crisis.

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

Some 521,199 new graduates entered the labour market this year, and while more jobs were created, the increase was not enough to accommodate all.

The unemployment rate among universitydegree holders, for example, climbed from 1.0 to 1.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year.

"The number of graduates from fields such as the humanities and fine arts have been higher than the demand from the labour market for many years already. The problem has existed since 2005," Arkhom said.

NESDB deputy secretarygeneral Suwannee Khamman said there were signs the jobless rate would soar even higher.

"Average work hours of the employed have fallen," she said.

The number of people working more than 40 hours a week now had dropped by 0.7 per cent.

NESDB also raised concerns about Thais' limited command of English, a skill which could become even more important in the future.

According to the English Proficiency Index (EPI), Thailand is ranked among groups with low English proficiency.

"We need to seriously and constantly improve Thais' English skills," she said.

She also suggested that Thais consider learning Malay because the language could be used to communicate with half the Asean population.

Meanwhile, the NESDB noted that a survey conducted earlier this year showed about one million Thai children were depressed and annoyed for unknown reasons.

And up to 17 million Thais drink alcohol and about 14.6 million are smokers.

-- The Nation 2012-08-28

[Thai at Heart]

Now this inspires some confidence huh?

[Mosha]

"Learn Malay" Or as it is known in the deep south Yawi. Why not English so they can communicate with the world?

[OzMick]

Unemployment up because of increased minimum wage - who would have imagined it? But I'm sure the unemployed are happy with the higher wage they are not getting.

"NESDB noted that a survey conducted earlier this year showed about one million Thai children were depressed and annoyed for unknown reasons."

One of the annoyances might be answering stupid survey questions.

[ramrod711]

"Many businesses are still unable to resume manufacturing," Arkhom said. Investors were also concerned about the Eurosovereign debt crisis.

DPM Kittiratt: Eurozone crisis fallout poses no significant impact on Thailand

BANGKOK, 14 July 2012 (NNT) – The deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs has reassured the public that the Eurozone debt crisis has not posed any significant impact on the country yet.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said during the Yingluck Government Meets the People program, on Saturday, that the financial crisis in Europe has not elevated, with all related governments working hard to contain and solve the problems through such approaches as fund-raising and monetary policy.

For ASEAN, Mr. Kittiratt stated that all countries have cautiously devised and pursued their respective policies. Major economies, such as China and South Korea, have adjusted down their interest rates.

The Deputy PM added that the Thai government has also introduced a number of surveillance measures related to the interest rate policy, the energy prices and the tax policy, to prevent the country from being hit by the Eurozone debt crisis.

He reiterated that the impact of the financial crisis in Europe has not reached Thailand although he conceded that all measures must be carefully implemented to shield the local economy from any undesirable fallout.

When asked about the export industry, Mr. Kittiratt said that all state banks have provided assistance to business operators, who are in need of help. Such assistance includes special loan consideration and the opening up of new markets.

He noted that a number of sectors may be hit by the Euro crisis, including jewelry, textile, garment and electronics. However, he assured that the government has started discussion to find solutions for them on an individual basis.

Another white lie?

[SuneeTH]

Unemployment up because of increased minimum wage - who would have imagined it? But I'm sure the unemployed are happy with the higher wage they are not getting.

"NESDB noted that a survey conducted earlier this year showed about one million Thai children were depressed and annoyed for unknown reasons."

One of the annoyances might be answering stupid survey questions.

Correct.

Minimum wages should be drop to 99 Baht/day (12 hours works with 30 min lunch and convenience break).

[asiawatcher]

The ramifications of poor strategic management. Populist policies gets votes and shafts the economy and country very quickly. Raising minimum wages, food prices all but doubling, small businesses go broke fast. As SME's tend to employ the lower educated (manual labour) if they get turfed the real crisis begins. Fuel up, food up, housing down, over governance etc, all contribute to failure. But educating in Malay - what a ridiculous statement. Government still trying to keep Thais in the dark as to what is happening in the real world...

[ratcatcher]

Unemployment up because of increased minimum wage - who would have imagined it? But I'm sure the unemployed are happy with the higher wage they are not getting.

"NESDB noted that a survey conducted earlier this year showed about one million Thai children were depressed and annoyed for unknown reasons."

One of the annoyances might be answering stupid survey questions.

Correct.

Minimum wages should be drop to 99 Baht/day (12 hours works with 30 min lunch and convenience break).

Have you considered becoming a trawler instead of a troller?

Just fishing.

[Mosha]

Unemployment up because of increased minimum wage - who would have imagined it? But I'm sure the unemployed are happy with the higher wage they are not getting.

"NESDB noted that a survey conducted earlier this year showed about one million Thai children were depressed and annoyed for unknown reasons."

One of the annoyances might be answering stupid survey questions.

Correct.

Minimum wages should be drop to 99 Baht/day (12 hours works with 30 min lunch and convenience break).

I swear TV needs an IQ test

[jcw]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

[Nisa]

Meanwhile, the NESDB noted that a survey conducted earlier this year showed about one million Thai children were depressed and annoyed for unknown reasons.

Maybe it was being surveyed that bothered them.

[Pib]

So, so many people in Thailand are self-employed by selling vegetables, fish, noodles, flowers, etc., in the markets and on the sois of Thailand. Some make descent money but most don't. But just as many children of rice farmers refuse to go into their parents' line of back breaking work, long work week & low pay, so are the children of vegetables, fish, noodles, flowers, etc., vendors. As these children enter the adult workforce they are actually doing it in such a way as looking for job/applying for benefits at the unemployment/labor office....this in turn, officially puts them on the roles of the unemployed. The real unemployement and under-employed rates, in Thailand are much higher than what the govt reports because many people just don't go to the unemployment/labor office. The unemployment rate in Thailand will continue to slowly climb as people try to break out of their current position in life, which may have also been their parents position in life.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Pib

[Nisa]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

Edited August 28, 2012 by Nisa

[Nisa]

"Learn Malay" Or as it is known in the deep south Yawi. Why not English so they can communicate with the world?

Lets just hope they learn their English skills from people who not only have good English skills but know how to use them. From the OP:

"We need to seriously and constantly improve Thais' English skills," she said.

[Nisa]

Unemployment may reach 0.85%, external debt 25% of GDP and little impact from the global meltdown the last years. If only countries in the west were so mismanaged.

[belg]

who did not predict this on TV ?

wait until they get spanish unemployment numbers at 25%...

thailand will become more and more law-less

add corruption and greed

and you got ...

[Mosha]

"Learn Malay" Or as it is known in the deep south Yawi. Why not English so they can communicate with the world?

Lets just hope they learn their English skills from people who not only have good English skills but know how to use them. From the OP:

"We need to seriously and constantly improve Thais' English skills," she said.

Sorry English is my 2nd language, I'm a native Tyke speaker. ;p

[davejones]

"Learn Malay" Or as it is known in the deep south Yawi. Why not English so they can communicate with the world?

If the jobs they want to do requires knowing Malay, then it would be pointless learning English. It is almost impossible for Thais to get a job in english speaking countries, so it would mostly be a waste of their time.

[Mosha]

"Learn Malay" Or as it is known in the deep south Yawi. Why not English so they can communicate with the world?

If the jobs they want to do requires knowing Malay, then it would be pointless learning English. It is almost impossible for Thais to get a job in english speaking countries, so it would mostly be a waste of their time.

Even Chinese boardrooms are encouraged to conduct their meetings in English, why? Because English is the language of business.

[JanKlaasen]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

That may explain the low figures as it is well known that Thais don't like to work.

Anyway, I have emailed several world powers with your solution to solve their unemployment problems.

So to bring their figures down drastically they will now start paying much higher unemployment benefits so that those people are not interested in a job anymore.

[OzMick]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

Those figures are great! What are they based on, a guess or a white lie?

[JanKlaasen]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

Those figures are great! What are they based on, a guess or a white lie?

I would rather say a big black lie.

[Nisa]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

That may explain the low figures as it is well known that Thais don't like to work.

Anyway, I have emailed several world powers with your solution to solve their unemployment problems.

So to bring their figures down drastically they will now start paying much higher unemployment benefits so that those people are not interested in a job anymore.

You seem to purposely be displaying a serious lack of comprehension to a very simplistic definition of how unemployment is defined around the globe. This is not the west with high unemployment and the government forced to hand unemployment checks (which require you be looking for work) for long periods . The overwhelming vast majority of Thais counted as being unemployed are not receiving government assistance and would guess a minority of them are collecting severance from their former jobs.

There are many people in ever society of working age that don't work and are not seeking work be they housewives, students, retired, collecting pensions, living off savings / investments or simply being provided for by family or inheritance,

Edited August 28, 2012 by Nisa

[OzMick]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

That may explain the low figures as it is well known that Thais don't like to work.

Anyway, I have emailed several world powers with your solution to solve their unemployment problems.

So to bring their figures down drastically they will now start paying much higher unemployment benefits so that those people are not interested in a job anymore.

You seem to purposely be displaying a serious lack of comprehension to a very simplistic definition of how unemployment is defined around the globe. This is not the west with high unemployment and the government forced to hand unemployment checks for long periods. The overwhelming vast majority of Thais counted as being unemployed are not receiving government assistance and would guess a minority of them are collecting severance from their former jobs.

D'oh. The fact that the unemployed don't get government assistance is why they are not unemployed. Faced with the prospects of bludging from your friends and family who have very little to start with, starving, or taking some menial self employment like scavenging plastic drink bottles for 1/4 baht per pop, they wisely opt for the latter - and are no longer unemployed. No wucking furries!

[JanKlaasen]

According to the NESDB, the national unemployment rate soared to 0.85 per cent in the second quarter of this year, up from 0.6 per cent during the same period last year.

They are saying that less than 1% unemployment rate? Strange, I see different.

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

That may explain the low figures as it is well known that Thais don't like to work.

Anyway, I have emailed several world powers with your solution to solve their unemployment problems.

So to bring their figures down drastically they will now start paying much higher unemployment benefits so that those people are not interested in a job anymore.

You seem to purposely be displaying a serious lack of comprehension to a very simplistic definition of how unemployment is defined around the globe. This is not the west with high unemployment and the government forced to hand unemployment checks for long periods. The overwhelming vast majority of Thais counted as being unemployed are not receiving government assistance and would guess a minority of them are collecting severance from their former jobs.

My point is : you have repeated nummerous times already in this and other threads that people WHO DON"T WANT TO WORK , are not included in the unemployemnet figures and that this is done similar all over the world.

If this was true it would be the dream of all politicians all over the world as they desperately need to bring down their figures.I know that in the Western world in every country there are thousands and thousands of people on unemployment benefits for many years inline and who have no intention of working ever again in their life because the benefits are that good.So these people are not included in the unemployment figures?

Keep dreaming.

It is just a fact that the unempoyment figure in Thailand is based on wet finger work or just a big fat lie.

Edited August 28, 2012 by JanKlaasen

[DaamNaam]

Nice work Yingluck. Truly a woman of power who delivers what she promises. Or so says Forbes magazine. So the rich get richer and the poor get the picture yet again.

Edited August 28, 2012 by DaamNaam

[Nisa]

Unemployment rates are a measure of people looking for work but currently unable to find work. It is not a measure of people who don't have a job and are not interested (seeking one) in having one.

Thailand has had a very low unemployment rate the last decade ... which has pretty much stayed below 2%. Around 2000 or 2001 it was close to 6%

That may explain the low figures as it is well known that Thais don't like to work.

Anyway, I have emailed several world powers with your solution to solve their unemployment problems.

So to bring their figures down drastically they will now start paying much higher unemployment benefits so that those people are not interested in a job anymore.

You seem to purposely be displaying a serious lack of comprehension to a very simplistic definition of how unemployment is defined around the globe. This is not the west with high unemployment and the government forced to hand unemployment checks for long periods. The overwhelming vast majority of Thais counted as being unemployed are not receiving government assistance and would guess a minority of them are collecting severance from their former jobs.

My point is : you have repeated nummerous times already in this and other threads that people WHO DON"T WANT TO WORK , are not included in the unemployemnet figures and that this is done similar all over the world.

If this was true it would be the dream of all politicians all over the world as they desperately need to bring down their figures.I know that in the Western world in every country there are thousands and thousands of people on unemployment benefits for many years inline and who have no intention of working ever again in their life because the benefits are that good.So these people are not included in the unemployment figures?

Keep dreaming.

It is just a fact that the unempoyment figure in Thailand is based on wet finger work or just a big fat lie.

As I have indicated, you are displaying a complete lack of desire to comprehend the most basic of concepts when it comes to unemployment rates. For example, in the US (the west) unemployment figures are done by surveys and have absolutely nothing to do at all with people collecting unemployment checks as this would be a different stat and one hugely smaller than the number counted as unemployed to determine the the common and globally accepted unemployment rate which is ... Total number of people who desire work but unable to find work divided by total labor force (which is defined as people who work and those who are not but want to be working). Those who don't want to work, for whatever reason, are not even part of the equation.

And again to help you understand the basics, you cannot collect unemployment in the US (west) unless you prove you are looking for work and have not turned down work offered.

I am just baffled at your determination to not grasp this.

[Nisa]

http://en.wikipedia....ent#Measurement

As defined by the

International Labour Organization

, "

unemployed workers" are those who are currently not working but are willing and able to work for pay, currently available to work, and have actively searched for work

.

^[28]

Individuals who are actively seeking job placement must make the effort to: be in contact with an employer, have job interviews, contact job placement agencies, send out resumes, submit applications, respond to advertisements, or some other means of active job searching within the prior four weeks. Simply looking at advertisements and not responding will not count as actively seeking job placement. Since not all unemployment may be "open" and counted by government agencies, official statistics on unemployment may not be accurate.

^[29]

*Total Labour Force is equal to "unemployed workers" and employed workers. In other words, people who don't want to work are not counted as part of the unemployed or as part of the labor force.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Nisa

[JanKlaasen]

http://en.wikipedia....ent#Measurement

As defined by the International Labour Organization, "unemployed workers" are those who are currently not working but are willing and able to work for pay, currently available to work, and have actively searched for work.^[28] Individuals who are actively seeking job placement must make the effort to: be in contact with an employer, have job interviews, contact job placement agencies, send out resumes, submit applications, respond to advertisements, or some other means of active job searching within the prior four weeks. Simply looking at advertisements and not responding will not count as actively seeking job placement. Since not all unemployment may be "open" and counted by government agencies, official statistics on unemployment may not be accurate.^[29]

Since not all unemployment may be "open" and counted by government agencies, official statistics on unemployment may not be accurate.^[29]

[IsaanUSA]

English Proficiency Index

http://www.ef.com/epi/ef-epi-ranking/

1 Norway 69.09 Very High Proficiency

2 Netherlands 67.93 Very High Proficiency

3 Denmark 66.58 Very High Proficiency

4 Sweden 66.26 Very High Proficiency

5 Finland 61.25 Very High Proficiency

6 Austria 58.58 High Proficiency

7 Belgium 57.23 High Proficiency

8 Germany 56.64 High Proficiency

9 Malaysia 55.54 High Proficiency

10 Poland 54.62 Moderate Proficiency

11 Switzerland 54.60 Moderate Proficiency

12 Hong Kong 54.44 Moderate Proficiency

13 South Korea 54.19 Moderate Proficiency

14 Japan 54.17 Moderate Proficiency

15 Portugal 53.62 Moderate Proficiency

16 Argentina 53.49 Moderate Proficiency

17 France 53.16 Moderate Proficiency

18 Mexico 51.48 Moderate Proficiency

19 Czech Republic 51.31 Moderate Proficiency

20 Hungary 50.80 Moderate Proficiency

21 Slovakia 50.64 Moderate Proficiency

22 Costa Rica 49.15 Low Proficiency

23 Italy 49.05 Low Proficiency

24 Spain 49.01 Low Proficiency

25 Taiwan 48.93 Low Proficiency

26 Saudi Arabia 48.05 Low Proficiency

27 Guatemala 47.80 Low Proficiency

28 El Salvador 47.65 Low Proficiency

29 China 47.62 Low Proficiency

30 India 47.35 Low Proficiency

31 Brazil 47.27 Low Proficiency

32 Russia 45.79 Low Proficiency

33 Dominican Republic 44.91 Very Low Proficiency

34 Indonesia 44.78 Very Low Proficiency

35 Peru 44.71 Very Low Proficiency

36 Chile 44.63 Very Low Proficiency

37 Ecuador 44.54 Very Low Proficiency

38 Venezuela 44.43 Very Low Proficiency

39 Vietnam 44.32 Very Low Proficiency

40 Panama 43.62 Very Low Proficiency

41 Colombia 42.77 Very Low Proficiency

42 Thailand 39.41 Very Low Proficiency

43 Turkey 37.66 Very Low Proficiency

44 Kazakhstan 31.74 Very Low Proficiency

Edited August 28, 2012 by IsaanUSA