EDITORIAL

The need to get the right people in the right jobs

The Nation

As economic circumstances change, the question is being asked whether Thailand is producing enough qualified people to meet demands

BANGKOK: -- The labour situation in Thailand has revealed flaws in the country's development process. Thailand is short of low-skilled workers, while at the same time many graduates are unemployed. Ironically, while the chambers of commerce are calling for the government to delay the deadline to verify the nationality of foreign workers - to allow many foreign workers whose nationalities are still in question to continue working in Thailand - more than 90,000 graduates from the class of 2010-2012 cannot find work.

This is not only happening to liberal arts or humanities graduates, but also those with specialised and technical skills. This implies that the country's education institutions are not producing graduates with the qualifications the market needs. Or the case may be that Thailand's economic development is not yet advanced enough to create higher demand for skilled labour.

A prosperous economy should improve the wellbeing of workers and create good job opportunities. But over the past few decades Thailand has seen a shift of labour from the farming sector to other sectors, such as service and manufacturing.

From 1973 to 1977, 67 per cent of Thai workers were in the agriculture sector. That figure fell to 60 per cent from 1988 to 1992 and to 42.2 per cent from 2003 to 2006. Even more worrying is that many of these remaining farmers are working on other people's land.

More than half of the Thai workforce is in the informal sector, totalling 24.1 million people, or 62.3 per cent. Workers in the formal sector total 14.6 million, or 37.7 per cent.

Workers in the informal sector tend to have less bargaining power with their employers. They are more vulnerable to being fired or laid off, and most live outside the government's welfare system.

The bargaining power of these workers is further reduced by the flow of foreign workers coming into Thailand to meet demand in labour-intensive sectors such as construction and fishing. They are directly affected by the changing social and economic environment.

This has raised the question of whether Thailand is seeing unsustainable growth.

While the demand for low-skilled workers is increasing, these same workers are seeing no corresponding increase in their bargaining power, because employers can easily replace them with foreign workers.

While they may not have much of a say with their employers, who have obviously gained more bargaining power, these workers have, in recent years, tried to assert themselves and become more active politically.

The improvement of conditions for low-skilled workers should be addressed in a systematic manner. Instead, the government's measures in this regard are mostly piecemeal. The minimum wage rise - by 40 per cent from next year - will not ensure better living standards. The best way to help workers is to create a sustainable business environment that encourages workers to improve their skills and thus be able to bargain with their employers.

Unfortunately, the current crop of decision-makers focuses merely on short-term solutions like the minimum wage rise or extending the nationality-certification deadline to assist some foreign workers.

Workers should be able to feel pride and dignity in their employment, instead of feeling they have to depend on government support or the goodwill of their employer.

-- The Nation 2012-12-15

When they say the "formal" and "informal" economy and workforce they mean the black, unregulated Thai sector. This includes massive numbers of sex workers, pimps, runners, bars, bar workers, hair dressers, petty drug dealers, tuk tuks,...etc... It also includes the massive Thai counterfeit stolen intellectual property trade and all the street vendors who make a living from it "informally."

Thailand's leaders through the last 6 decades have turned their back on embracing these folks and recruiting them into the "formal" economy. Rather Thailand's leaders have siphoned off money from this "informal" sector and profiteered themselves into living high on the hog off the backs of the girls, petty drug thieves, loan sharks, street vendors, food sellers, and unregulated "informal" businesses operating on the dark side of Thailand such as all the illegitimate purveyors of counterfeit music and software at upscale establishments with rents being paid to wealthy landlords and police bag men all the way up the food chain.

Thailand can never reverse its failure to educate its population into the "formal" economy. They have already lost the battle. The black Thai "informal economy" probably well outpaces the legitimate "formal" economy in terms of percentage growth in turnover and cash flow. The continued proliferation of prostitution sois and massage parlors masquerading as you know what everywhere and everyday bargaining for sex of some sort is endless at all levels of society. Upscale venues like many 5 star hotels 4 and 3 star all have trendy lobby bars populated with "freelance" girls working both sides of the street such as a regular formal economy job and freelance a few tricks at night where they can work these upscale venues rather than the the traditional bar girl sois all over Thailand.

So taking this subject in its reality context, this newspaper's article is preposterous because it fails to recognize the basic truths of what is actually ging o and has been for 6 decades. Thais have it in their DNA to sell out and cater to everyone's baser instincts while surrendering any of their own self worth. Thailand is a country failing before our eyes to come through the other side of the "formal" world and remains and will remain an informal prison fixing their own mind with their own mind, and the newspaper doesn't have a clue as this article illustrates.

"Thailand is short of low-skilled workers, while at the same time many graduates are unemployed."

Actually they have too many low-skilled workers (quite a few with degrees) looking for higher-skilled jobs, or being subsidised by the taxpayers to continue in uneconomic employment.

The need to get the right people in the right jobs.

Yes, indeed.

You could start with the politicians, civil servants, police and the military.

Rather than a bunch of corrupt, money grabbing thieves and liars, you could always get people who really care about Thailand and its people.

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

when huge swathes of the economy rely on minimum wage to survive, which allows the slightly richer to have cheap property, land and services, where do the jobs come from to create wealth?

FDI ?

ah, but the Thai economy is closed to many.

The need to get the right people in the right jobs

Right! Why not start with "journalists"!

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

Certainly agree with your point # 2.

One year back we interviewed several people for a vacant mid level supervisor position. One candidate (mid twenties) entered the interview room already talking and laughing on the phone, and at the same time sucking on a big take away iced coffee container.

She made no attempt to greet anybody in the panel (Thai CEO and me), and no attempt to finish her call. Dumped her very big handbag in the middle of the table, then stood up and disappeared.

Why? She went to look for the maid to get some more water added to her iced coffee. Reappeared 10 minutes later, still on the phone and walked to a window, looked outside and continued her call, other people in the room still ignored.

The interview proceeded no further - she was told politelly (by the CEO) that her interview was cancelled and there would be no further appointment.

She called me later in the day to ask why. I explained honestly, she said she was shocked at being treated in this way and wouldn't want to work for a company like this anyway.

Further I called the so called international / professional recruitment agency who sent her and said I was not satisfied. The very young

'consultant' commented ' your out of touch with young people'. We changed to a different agency.

Also interviewed a candidate for the HR officer position. Against my judgement someone was appointed. It had been explained during the second interview that there was a problem with a number of staff arriving late and all HR staff were expected to be role models for good time keeping.

First 2 days the new person came on time, then quickly 10, 20, 40 minutes late, always with a phone call about next door neighbour sick, traffic, helping people at accidents and more.

This person was counselled a number of times but simply refused to listen, and always showed some anger about the whole matter, with comments like 'why can't the company be flexible' 'My work is always up to date, so it doesn't matter', etc etc. Didn't pass probation.

Edited December 15, 201213 yr by scorecard

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

Certainly agree with your point # 2.

One year back we interviewed several people for a vacant mid level supervisor position. One candidate (mid twenties) entered the interview room already talking and laughing on the phone, and at the same time sucking on a big take away iced coffee container. She made no attempt to greet anybody in the panel (Thai CEO and me), and no attempt to finish her call. Dumped her very big handbag in the middle of the table, then stood up and disappeared.

Why, she went to look for the maid to get some more water added to her iced coffee, Reappeared 10 minutes later, still on the phone and walked to a window, looked outside and continued her call, other people in the room still ignored.

The interview proceeded no further - she was told politelly (by the CEO) that her interview was cancelled and there would be no further appointment.

She called me later in the day to ask why. I explained honestly, she said she was shocked at being treated in this way and wouldn't want to work for a company like this anyway.

Further I called the so called international / professional recruitment agency who sent her and said I was not satisfied. The very young

'consultant' commented ' your out of touch with young people'. We changed to a different agency.

Also interviewed a candidate for the HR officer position. Against my judgement someone was appointed. It had been explained during the second interview that there was a problem with a number of staff arriving late and all HR staff were expected to be role models for good time keeping.

First 2 days the new person came on time, then quickly 10, 20, 40 minutes late, always with a phone call about next door neighbour sick, traffic, helping people at accidents and more.

This person was counselled a number of times but simply refused to listen, and always showed some anger about the whole matter, with comments like 'why can't the company be flexible, etc etc. Didn't pass probabtion.

lol, welcome to my life. only i have also had some come with their kids, sitting the kid in my chair and i guess expecting me to sit on the floor.

had some come with a friend, yes friend along with them

had many ask for 30% higher salary than the advertised, yet no experience or presentation

and my latest one, just yesterday, demanded that i address him as Mr, while he called me "you'

PS. With lateness, i introduced "late fees" 1 hour late from memory is around 400 baht, that kind of solved the problem of lateness(lateness is charged in 5 min intervals). but i do like the comments of "flexible" i guess employees would not mind to stay back for a few hours for free, after all its about being "flexible"

Edited December 15, 201213 yr by lemoncake

One day in the not distant future, the whole moraly bankrupt country will be exposed, to what it realy is. And the house of cards will come crashing down!

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

Certainly agree with your point # 2.

One year back we interviewed several people for a vacant mid level supervisor position. One candidate (mid twenties) entered the interview room already talking and laughing on the phone, and at the same time sucking on a big take away iced coffee container.

She made no attempt to greet anybody in the panel (Thai CEO and me), and no attempt to finish her call. Dumped her very big handbag in the middle of the table, then stood up and disappeared.

Why? She went to look for the maid to get some more water added to her iced coffee. Reappeared 10 minutes later, still on the phone and walked to a window, looked outside and continued her call, other people in the room still ignored.

The interview proceeded no further - she was told politelly (by the CEO) that her interview was cancelled and there would be no further appointment.

She called me later in the day to ask why. I explained honestly, she said she was shocked at being treated in this way and wouldn't want to work for a company like this anyway.

Further I called the so called international / professional recruitment agency who sent her and said I was not satisfied. The very young

'consultant' commented ' your out of touch with young people'. We changed to a different agency.

Also interviewed a candidate for the HR officer position. Against my judgement someone was appointed. It had been explained during the second interview that there was a problem with a number of staff arriving late and all HR staff were expected to be role models for good time keeping.

First 2 days the new person came on time, then quickly 10, 20, 40 minutes late, always with a phone call about next door neighbour sick, traffic, helping people at accidents and more.

This person was counselled a number of times but simply refused to listen, and always showed some anger about the whole matter, with comments like 'why can't the company be flexible' 'My work is always up to date, so it doesn't matter', etc etc. Didn't pass probation.

I'm also aware of a management consultancy hiring a new graduate (MBA, never worked). After a few days on the job (associate analyst - first level position) she announced to the GM that she didn't like the work she had been given and she then indicated what work she wanted to do.

The GM explained how the company built competency in it's employees step by step. She insisted it was not necesaary for her to follow that path because she had an MBA. She remained assigned to the work she had originally been given and sulked.

After about two weeks she didn't turn up on Monday morning, also Tuesday morning. The Admin manager started calling, employee didn't answer her phone, Admin manager eventually spoke to the maid supervisor at her home, 'She went to Hong Kong with her mother for shopping'.

She turned up the following Friday and was told to report immediately to the GM. She was shocked that he was angry and she retorted, "I couldn't let my mother go alone". Her father, a politician from a famous family - he was a member of the board of the biggest airline in the country, called several times and insisted that she has been treated unfairly.

She remained fired. Last heard of she had gone to the US to do another MBA.

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

Certainly agree with your point # 2.

One year back we interviewed several people for a vacant mid level supervisor position. One candidate (mid twenties) entered the interview room already talking and laughing on the phone, and at the same time sucking on a big take away iced coffee container.

She made no attempt to greet anybody in the panel (Thai CEO and me), and no attempt to finish her call. Dumped her very big handbag in the middle of the table, then stood up and disappeared.

Why? She went to look for the maid to get some more water added to her iced coffee. Reappeared 10 minutes later, still on the phone and walked to a window, looked outside and continued her call, other people in the room still ignored.

The interview proceeded no further - she was told politelly (by the CEO) that her interview was cancelled and there would be no further appointment.

She called me later in the day to ask why. I explained honestly, she said she was shocked at being treated in this way and wouldn't want to work for a company like this anyway.

Further I called the so called international / professional recruitment agency who sent her and said I was not satisfied. The very young

'consultant' commented ' your out of touch with young people'. We changed to a different agency.

Also interviewed a candidate for the HR officer position. Against my judgement someone was appointed. It had been explained during the second interview that there was a problem with a number of staff arriving late and all HR staff were expected to be role models for good time keeping.

First 2 days the new person came on time, then quickly 10, 20, 40 minutes late, always with a phone call about next door neighbour sick, traffic, helping people at accidents and more.

This person was counselled a number of times but simply refused to listen, and always showed some anger about the whole matter, with comments like 'why can't the company be flexible' 'My work is always up to date, so it doesn't matter', etc etc. Didn't pass probation.

I'm also aware of a management consultancy hiring a new graduate (MBA, never worked). After a few days on the job (associate analyst - first level position) she announced to the GM that she didn't like the work she had been given and she then indicated what work she wanted to do.

The GM explained how the company built competency in it's employees step by step. She insisted it was not necesaary for her to follow that path because she had an MBA. She remained assigned to the work she had originally been given and sulked.

After about two weeks she didn't turn up on Monday morning, also Tuesday morning. The Admin manager started calling, employee didn't answer her phone, Admin manager eventually spoke to the maid supervisor at her home, 'She went to Hong Kong with her mother for shopping'.

She turned up the following Friday and was told to report immediately to the GM. She was shocked that he was angry and she retorted, "I couldn't let my mother go alone". Her father, a politician from a famous family - he was a member of the board of the biggest airline in the country, called several times and insisted that she has been treated unfairly.

She remained fired. Last heard of she had gone to the US to do another MBA.

I am so so happy to read your posts, now at least I know I am not alone

No doubt, another MBA is what she needs to get the "right"job.

The scary thing is this is not a one off but rather the norm and someone like her will end up in a senior role with her father's help

The need to get the right people in the right jobs.

Yes, indeed.

You could start with the politicians, civil servants, police and the military.

Rather than a bunch of corrupt, money grabbing thieves and liars, you could always get people who really care about Thailand and its people.

Subcontract foreigners into those positions perhaps?

More than half of the Thai workforce is in the informal sector, totalling 24.1 million people, or 62.3 per cent. Workers in the formal sector total 14.6 million, or 37.7 per cent.

About time to formalize that "informal sector".

Who are the right people, and what are the right jobs?

Handing this over to any Thai for an answer is anathema. History proves it and is now emphasizing it. The kingdom is already in the throws of turning its disenfranchised general population into a breeding ground for terrorists. Those who do not choose to be terrorists are simply blindly and ignorantly hanging on to the end of the life line with false hopes that they will be able to survive with the few crumbs that the corrupt government tosses to them and too many people are fighting over. Their credit card debt will be their bane and the bane of the government, with the terrorist / freedom fighters close on the heels of bankrupt citizens. Those in the middle are fodder for the fire. All that is needed is a match to set them all afire in anger. We have seen what happens when governments get to the point of telling the people to eat cake.

Spot on, clockman.

Who are the right people, and what are the right jobs?

a. friends & relatives

b. the ones that pay good money for doing nothing

Edited December 15, 201213 yr by Payboy

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

Certainly agree with your point # 2.

One year back we interviewed several people for a vacant mid level supervisor position. One candidate (mid twenties) entered the interview room already talking and laughing on the phone, and at the same time sucking on a big take away iced coffee container.

She made no attempt to greet anybody in the panel (Thai CEO and me), and no attempt to finish her call. Dumped her very big handbag in the middle of the table, then stood up and disappeared.

Why? She went to look for the maid to get some more water added to her iced coffee. Reappeared 10 minutes later, still on the phone and walked to a window, looked outside and continued her call, other people in the room still ignored.

The interview proceeded no further - she was told politelly (by the CEO) that her interview was cancelled and there would be no further appointment.

She called me later in the day to ask why. I explained honestly, she said she was shocked at being treated in this way and wouldn't want to work for a company like this anyway.

Further I called the so called international / professional recruitment agency who sent her and said I was not satisfied. The very young

'consultant' commented ' your out of touch with young people'. We changed to a different agency.

Also interviewed a candidate for the HR officer position. Against my judgement someone was appointed. It had been explained during the second interview that there was a problem with a number of staff arriving late and all HR staff were expected to be role models for good time keeping.

First 2 days the new person came on time, then quickly 10, 20, 40 minutes late, always with a phone call about next door neighbour sick, traffic, helping people at accidents and more.

This person was counselled a number of times but simply refused to listen, and always showed some anger about the whole matter, with comments like 'why can't the company be flexible' 'My work is always up to date, so it doesn't matter', etc etc. Didn't pass probation.

I'm also aware of a management consultancy hiring a new graduate (MBA, never worked). After a few days on the job (associate analyst - first level position) she announced to the GM that she didn't like the work she had been given and she then indicated what work she wanted to do.

The GM explained how the company built competency in it's employees step by step. She insisted it was not necesaary for her to follow that path because she had an MBA. She remained assigned to the work she had originally been given and sulked.

After about two weeks she didn't turn up on Monday morning, also Tuesday morning. The Admin manager started calling, employee didn't answer her phone, Admin manager eventually spoke to the maid supervisor at her home, 'She went to Hong Kong with her mother for shopping'.

She turned up the following Friday and was told to report immediately to the GM. She was shocked that he was angry and she retorted, "I couldn't let my mother go alone". Her father, a politician from a famous family - he was a member of the board of the biggest airline in the country, called several times and insisted that she has been treated unfairly.

She remained fired. Last heard of she had gone to the US to do another MBA.

I am so so happy to read your posts, now at least I know I am not alone

No doubt, another MBA is what she needs to get the "right"job.

The scary thing is this is not a one off but rather the norm and someone like her will end up in a senior role with her father's help

Actually there's a bit more to the story, she abandoned the MBA study in the US because it was too difficult.

She came home and started work as a trolley dolly, no problem to get in, just use the 'famous family' card.

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

How about really educating the people who are in school. They shove them along and come up with a bunch of uneducated people who have a paper that says they are educated,

That is not what employers are looking for and is the reason for a lot of supposedly educated people being in fields that do not call for an education.

Clean up there education system and then and only then will we see a change.

1. How about educating those with education how to call and come for Interview.

2. Educating those with education simple work place manners , which includes NOT using mobile phone at an interview and all day while at work

3. Educating those with education that they can not demand high pay when they have no experience or demand a wage rise after working for 2 months

Thailand does not have a shortage of labor or skilled people, Thailand lacks work ethics and basic understanding of the meaning of the word work, along with lack of responsibility and accountability

How about really educating the people who are in school. They shove them along and come up with a bunch of uneducated people who have a paper that says they are educated,

That is not what employers are looking for and is the reason for a lot of supposedly educated people being in fields that do not call for an education.

Clean up there education system and then and only then will we see a change.

Funny you bring it up. Was having a chat with my Vet. He is Thai, has has the veterinary hospital for over 15 years in Pattaya and we were talking about staff and problems.

To my surprise he has the same problems of staff not showing up, coming late, being on the phone, going MIA and everything else.

So we got onto topic why? His explanation and theory was, that uni's had limited number of "sits" but there were a huge number of people who wanted to attend uni, so they changed the system and allowed colleges to issue Bachelor Degrees, so they put college on the same education level as a uni, as a result there are thousands of graduates with BD, who expect a high paying job, yet they are not only unqualified but not even educated enough. However a vast majority with those BD's demanding top paying jobs because they have a BD

In a culture where degree and status is more important then developing real social intercultural personality skills and behavior abd respect towards other people and their diversity, the Thai Chinese elite has created an overloaded mass production of university graduates who have ZERO of those social skills, just the FACE that is so essential to cover up those social ignorance deficiencies…

Edited December 15, 201213 yr by MaxLee

In a culture where degree and status is more important then developing real social intercultural personality skills and behavior abd respect towards other people and their diversity, the Thai Chinese elite has created an overloaded mass production of university graduates who have ZERO of those social skills, just the FACE that is so essential to cover up those social ignorance deficiencies…

Why do you think its Thai Chinese elite who has done that? No one is stopping or blocking the so called graduates to do some reading and internet research.

NO one is stopping them from doing little self development or self education.

Just common sense would be to google the name of the company when you applying for a job, so not only you know the location but also know a little about the company, instead of standing right outside and calling 15 mins past the interview time to advise that you can not find the place, while a huge 2m x5 m sign is just above their head

Lemoncake....someone is stopping them from doing further research, the young people themselves. They are too lazy to do the work to get the position, most of the degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on and everyone looks for status over substance. Having a degree does not garautee that the person is good for the position, I fail to understand why a degree is needed for a sales position....can anyone direct me to a Degree in Sales.....

Lemoncake....someone is stopping them from doing further research, the young people themselves. They are too lazy to do the work to get the position, most of the degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on and everyone looks for status over substance. Having a degree does not garautee that the person is good for the position, I fail to understand why a degree is needed for a sales position....can anyone direct me to a Degree in Sales.....

i agree, the point in previous post was that it had nothing to do with Thai Chinese Elite, it has a lot more to do with personal choices.

The reason why sales want a degree just as bank teller also needs one is because many company's believe that when someone has a degree they have

"more developed" brain and understanding, as well as ability to read and count.

In my personal experience,i found the ones with no degree had much more common sense and logic, over the ones with degrees, HOWEVER when it came to writing Thai, the ones without a degree could not even spell the names of foods or their positions

Spot on. A Thai degree is about equivalent to a GCSE and unfortunately the who,e basic education level is pitifully low. Competence requires an understanding, at least at a basic level, of all core subjects such as language both reading and writing, Maths, & sciences. Each of these subjects call in some way on the other subjects. As for Thai language it is poorly suited to commerce being poorly understood with most atheists having an alarmingly small vocabulary and having difficulty understanding each other never mind scholarly works. The language conditions their brains to a social thought pattern rather than one of commerce and I think leaves Thais with a terribly simplistic view of the world and a very low ability to think analytically. Perhaps with the approach of ASEAN and the reliance of English as the language of commerce, maybe Thailand should be running to catch up in the development of English as a language on par with Thai if for no other reason than to allow to compete on a level playing field. I am afraid their super inflated egos will hamper this progress and leave them behind everyone. Sad really!

Another journalistic masterpiece: the question is being asked whether Thailand is producing enough qualified people to meet demands

This only seems to be a question for the guys in parliament. The rest of the population knows the answer. As long as family ties, Khao San certificates and bribes to influential people secure a job, nothing will change.

Not only so called educated people,try hiring some one to work in your garden!!

Another real life story with a different twist .... the daughter of my previous landlord got a job as a teller at a major bank in Bangkok by paying for it. She told me this herself. When I expressed my amazement she said most of the tellers in that bank got their positions in this way. She wouldn't tell me who she paid (manager, interviewing team, the teller supervisor?) Granted she was a college grad and may have been qualified. Some of these jobs go to the highest bidder and the interview (or qualifications) are secondary .... that's why they are so shocked when faced with a real interview process.

On a similar note, I fell into a discussion with another bank teller at another major foreign bank in Bangkok about Thaksin and while she admitted that he was corrupt, she said she still supported him because he is so "clever". When I asked her why she thought he was clever, she replied as if I was a moron with something like ... "look how rich he is!"

This kind of system feeds itself.

Another real life story with a different twist .... the daughter of my previous landlord got a job as a teller at a major bank in Bangkok by paying for it. She told me this herself. When I expressed my amazement she said most of the tellers in that bank got their positions in this way. She wouldn't tell me who she paid (manager, interviewing team, the teller supervisor?) Granted she was a college grad and may have been qualified. Some of these jobs go to the highest bidder and the interview (or qualifications) are secondary .... that's why they are so shocked when faced with a real interview process.

On a similar note, I fell into a discussion with another bank teller at another major foreign bank in Bangkok about Thaksin and while she admitted that he was corrupt, she said she still supported him because he is so "clever". When I asked her why she thought he was clever, she replied as if I was a moron with something like ... "look how rich he is!"

This kind of system feeds itself.

Great story, does explain why the loan officer i saw the other day did not know how to calculate the interest or even the meaning of the word

One day in the not distant future, the whole moraly bankrupt country will be exposed, to what it realy is. And the house of cards will come crashing down!

Unfortunately, not soon enough to rattle the tree. Already waaaay past due date.

One day in the not distant future, the whole moraly bankrupt country will be exposed, to what it realy is. And the house of cards will come crashing down!

Unfortunately, not soon enough to rattle the tree. Already waaaay past due date.

2015 may well be the breaking point. though i have some suspicion that Thai government will introduce some silly rule or law making it hard or expansive for the business to employ "foreigners"