Thailand has one of the lowest unemployment rates globally

[thailiketoo]

Underemployment here is huge and is not measured.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Considering the number of underemployed

workers and available for additional work, there were

0.18 million or 0.5% of the total employed persons

http://web.nso.go.th/en/survey/data_survey/560624_Summary_Labor_%20May57.pdf

[Thakkar]

Do hookers count as employed or unemployed?

I think the term is underemployed and account for .05% of the workforce.

Yes, a very, very small percentage. But to a hammer everything looks like a nail.

T

[Thakkar]

You need to take such figures in Thailand with a very large dose of Salt.

Many Thais have never been officially "employed" and therefore the "unemployment" statistics are very doubtful.

They are simply a guess.

There is no" unemployment benefits" or "dole" here in Thailand, and many people actually working have never been registered as "working" with any government agency.

That's why so few are "unemployed".

Take my Thai girlfriends daughter and her daughter's husband as an example.

They rent a stall in a local market, and sell costume jewelry for a living. They work very hard buying jewelry, cleaning and packaging it, and stocking it in their stall to sell.

They work about 10 hours every day, and at least 2 or 3 times a month they travel outside of Bangkok to factories to buy new stock...... which means leaving Bangkok at 4 a.m. to travel to the factory and selecting and buying new stock. That is a 12 to 14 hour day. The next day they clean and package the goods to sell, a 12 hour process at least.

None of that is recorded anywhere by any government body, and officially they are "unemployed" and have never been "employed".

Bottom line ..... in Thailand the figures don't mean a thing .... they are all for show.

I would guess that a good 50% of the actual workers in Thailand are not recorded as 'employed" anywhere in government statistics. For another example, workers hired by the day and paid by the day are not counted by the government.

Many are "self-employed" and not covered by "statistics" anywhere.

Government statistics simply can't be trusted in Thailand.

This is not the EU or the U.S. where everything is monitored.

My kid's applying to Uni. Tell us where you got your economics degree. I'll advise her not to apply there.

T

[Borzandy]

Yes, sure, Thailand has one of the lowest real statistic agency.

[thailiketoo]

Yes, sure, Thailand has one of the lowest real statistic agency.

Says who?

[i claudius]

Thais work? ,thats a laugh half of them do not even know the meaning of the word.

[garyinhuahin]

In Thailand, I see many who are not employed in the Western conventional sense. I see few who are idle.

As I see it, the problem for us is that our countries have largely eliminated the informal economy, and fail to recognize it where it still exists.

In Thailand the informal economy is embraced.

In that view, I'll buy the 0.7% stat. Sounds about right

[ezzra]

In Thailand there is no unemployment benefits and thus there isn't an incentive

to get registered as unemployed, IMHO, there are huge numbers of unemployed

people in Thailand being supported by friend and family until they will be gainly

employed again...

[wwest5829]

The Thais seem to prefer full employment vs efficiency. That's why you see department stores with 10 "sales persons" standing around with their thumbs up their butts, no customers

I agree. An American company would come in and fire about three fourths of the working staff. Then there would be much higher unemployment. Then unemployment compensation would be paid but no one wants to pay taxes for government programs. After which you will have folks calling for the impeachment of the President....oops, I am old, different country. Ha!

[thailiketoo]

In Thailand there is no unemployment benefits and thus there isn't an incentive

to get registered as unemployed, IMHO, there are huge numbers of unemployed

people in Thailand being supported by friend and family until they will be gainly

employed again...

America does not calculate unemployment by adding up all the people who collect unemployment insurance and neither does Thailand so that is not important in figuring the unemployment rate.

[thailiketoo]

Thais work? ,thats a laugh half of them do not even know the meaning of the word.

And neither do you. Does that statement make you angry? OK why can't I accurately make a statement like that? Because I don't know you? OK. Why can't you make a statement like that about Thai people? Because you don't know them.

[thailiketoo]

The Thais seem to prefer full employment vs efficiency. That's why you see department stores with 10 "sales persons" standing around with their thumbs up their butts, no customers

I agree. An American company would come in and fire about three fourths of the working staff. Then there would be much higher unemployment. Then unemployment compensation would be paid but no one wants to pay taxes for government programs. After which you will have folks calling for the impeachment of the President....oops, I am old, different country. Ha!

You do know that Ford built plants in Thailand instead of Detroit?

And, "Ford Motor Co., moving to ease production constraints in North America, plans to shift output of the Fiesta subcompact from Mexico to Thailand in 2016."

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130516/OEM01/130519912/ford-to-shift-fiesta-output-to-thailand-from-mexico-report-says

Well golly gosh and shucks Thailand is in the top auto producers world wide.

You suggested in your post that American workers provide more labor for the dollar than Thai workers and yet when Ford had a choice of making cars in Mexico, Detroit or Thailand; Ford chose Thailand. Ford chose Thailand because Thai workers make more cars for less dollars than can be made in Detroit or Mexico.

So My advice would be for America to come to Thailand and see why Thais have such a low rate of unemployment.

[wwest5829]

The Thais seem to prefer full employment vs efficiency. That's why you see department stores with 10 "sales persons" standing around with their thumbs up their butts, no customers

I agree. An American company would come in and fire about three fourths of the working staff. Then there would be much higher unemployment. Then unemployment compensation would be paid but no one wants to pay taxes for government programs. After which you will have folks calling for the impeachment of the President....oops, I am old, different country. Ha!

You do know that Ford built plants in Thailand instead of Detroit?

And, "Ford Motor Co., moving to ease production constraints in North America, plans to shift output of the Fiesta subcompact from Mexico to Thailand in 2016."

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130516/OEM01/130519912/ford-to-shift-fiesta-output-to-thailand-from-mexico-report-says

Well golly gosh and shucks Thailand is in the top auto producers world wide.

You suggested in your post that American workers provide more labor for the dollar than Thai workers and yet when Ford had a choice of making cars in Mexico, Detroit or Thailand; Ford chose Thailand. Ford chose Thailand because Thai workers make more cars for less dollars than can be made in Detroit or Mexico.

So My advice would be for America to come to Thailand and see why Thais have such a low rate of unemployment.

Hey, I am not putting Thailand down. I wish all well. Try to keep in mind, I chose to retire here rather than at least four other countries I was considering. I am just sharing my concerns and thinking about the department store staff, HomePro, etc. when it comes to excess staff numbers. My post was to to show that there are tradeoffs. I am aware of the expansion of Toyota's and Ford's production expansion in Louisville, KY also. Bottom line is that they will go to wherever they think they can produce for less cost. Mexico and Canada are close to the a American market ( god knows we like to consume). Coming to Thailand, I would think, would pay if aimed at an expanding middle class in Asia due to shipping costs.

[Pralaad]

Do hookers count as employed or unemployed?

I think the term is underemployed and account for .05% of the workforce.

Is that official statistics or a made up number?

[thailiketoo]

The Thais seem to prefer full employment vs efficiency. That's why you see department stores with 10 "sales persons" standing around with their thumbs up their butts, no customers

I agree. An American company would come in and fire about three fourths of the working staff. Then there would be much higher unemployment. Then unemployment compensation would be paid but no one wants to pay taxes for government programs. After which you will have folks calling for the impeachment of the President....oops, I am old, different country. Ha!

You do know that Ford built plants in Thailand instead of Detroit?

And, "Ford Motor Co., moving to ease production constraints in North America, plans to shift output of the Fiesta subcompact from Mexico to Thailand in 2016."

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130516/OEM01/130519912/ford-to-shift-fiesta-output-to-thailand-from-mexico-report-says

Well golly gosh and shucks Thailand is in the top auto producers world wide.

You suggested in your post that American workers provide more labor for the dollar than Thai workers and yet when Ford had a choice of making cars in Mexico, Detroit or Thailand; Ford chose Thailand. Ford chose Thailand because Thai workers make more cars for less dollars than can be made in Detroit or Mexico.

So My advice would be for America to come to Thailand and see why Thais have such a low rate of unemployment.

Hey, I am not putting Thailand down. I wish all well. Try to keep in mind, I chose to retire here rather than at least four other countries I was considering. I am just sharing my concerns and thinking about the department store staff, HomePro, etc. when it comes to excess staff numbers. My post was to to show that there are tradeoffs. I am aware of the expansion of Toyota's and Ford's production expansion in Louisville, KY also. Bottom line is that they will go to wherever they think they can produce for less cost. Mexico and Canada are close to the a American market ( god knows we like to consume). Coming to Thailand, I would think, would pay if aimed at an expanding middle class in Asia due to shipping costs.

Many of the Home Pro staff are not paid by Home Pro. They are paid for by the brands they represent that's why they don't know much about the rest of the store. It is like the cosmetic girls in a department store who get paid by the brand they sell. It is like anywhere else. Some Thais work very hard and others stay home and plant a bit of rice and drink moonshine.

[thailiketoo]

Do hookers count as employed or unemployed?

I think the term is underemployed and account for .05% of the workforce.

Is that official statistics or a made up number?

It is an official number but I was kidding about the under in underemployed. .05% are underemployed; are they hookers ? I don't know.

[Watertoy]

If in Australia, every employer (Small Business) was forced to employ a minimum of 4 local staff and record them on their books, then of course, Australia would have 0 Unemployment. With so many Thai's working in a Cash Society and very limited number that actually pay Tax, then how would they have a clue on what their Unemployment Rate was ?

[pigeonjake]

i new this would get good,

[swissie]

Thais work? ,thats a laugh half of them do not even know the meaning of the word.

And not to forget: All the young folks still hanging around their parents place. The young females hanging in the hammock, watching soaps and producing 1 child per year. The young males busy with gambling, drinking and causing havoc.

If this crowd would ever be included in any statistic, oh boy..........!

Cheers.

[wwest5829]

The Thais seem to prefer full employment vs efficiency. That's why you see department stores with 10 "sales persons" standing around with their thumbs up their butts, no customers

I agree. An American company would come in and fire about three fourths of the working staff. Then there would be much higher unemployment. Then unemployment compensation would be paid but no one wants to pay taxes for government programs. After which you will have folks calling for the impeachment of the President....oops, I am old, different country. Ha!

You do know that Ford built plants in Thailand instead of Detroit?

And, "Ford Motor Co., moving to ease production constraints in North America, plans to shift output of the Fiesta subcompact from Mexico to Thailand in 2016."

http://www.autonews.com/article/20130516/OEM01/130519912/ford-to-shift-fiesta-output-to-thailand-from-mexico-report-says

Well golly gosh and shucks Thailand is in the top auto producers world wide.

You suggested in your post that American workers provide more labor for the dollar than Thai workers and yet when Ford had a choice of making cars in Mexico, Detroit or Thailand; Ford chose Thailand. Ford chose Thailand because Thai workers make more cars for less dollars than can be made in Detroit or Mexico.

So My advice would be for America to come to Thailand and see why Thais have such a low rate of unemployment.

Hey, I am not putting Thailand down. I wish all well. Try to keep in mind, I chose to retire here rather than at least four other countries I was considering. I am just sharing my concerns and thinking about the department store staff, HomePro, etc. when it comes to excess staff numbers. My post was to to show that there are tradeoffs. I am aware of the expansion of Toyota's and Ford's production expansion in Louisville, KY also. Bottom line is that they will go to wherever they think they can produce for less cost. Mexico and Canada are close to the a American market ( god knows we like to consume). Coming to Thailand, I would think, would pay if aimed at an expanding middle class in Asia due to shipping costs.

Many of the Home Pro staff are not paid by Home Pro. They are paid for by the brands they represent that's why they don't know much about the rest of the store. It is like the cosmetic girls in a department store who get paid by the brand they sell. It is like anywhere else. Some Thais work very hard and others stay home and plant a bit of rice and drink moonshine.

I do not contest and am married to a Thai who I know works hard to keep me happy.

[thailiketoo]

If in Australia, every employer (Small Business) was forced to employ a minimum of 4 local staff and record them on their books, then of course, Australia would have 0 Unemployment. With so many Thai's working in a Cash Society and very limited number that actually pay Tax, then how would they have a clue on what their Unemployment Rate was ?

Do you think the USA counts the people who are unemployed to get their unemployment rate? Do you think the USA checks the tax rolls to find out if people work or not? Do you have a clue how Thailand figures unemployment?

[thailiketoo]

How do the USA and Thailand measure unemployment?

Because unemployment insurance records relate only to people who have applied for such benefits, and since it is impractical to count every unemployed person each month, the government conducts a monthly survey called the Current Population Survey (CPS) to measure the extent of unemployment in the country. The CPS has been conducted in the every month since 1940,

A gold star for which countries do the above or something similar.

[thailiketoo]

i new this would get good,

It just freaks me out. These yahoos come to Thailand spouting off about unemployment and everything else without even knowing how the darn rate is computed in Thailand and/or whatever podunk place they come from.

It is simple they could google podunk and how is the employment rate calculated and find out.

[soalbundy]

hah I bet a time n motion study would be hilarious here..........theyd have to measure in decades!

Yes little unemployment because it takes 4 people to do one persons job

[thailiketoo]

hah I bet a time n motion study would be hilarious here..........theyd have to measure in decades!

Yes little unemployment because it takes 4 people to do one persons job

Ya that's why Ford, Mercedes, Honda and Toyota make cars here. Wake up. Oh by the way where was your hard drive made?

[orosee]

It takes 4 people to dig a hole, only one is actually working. One is the engineer/supervisor. So 50% of employed people don't work. Should be higher on the country.

[Nobbie49]

Let's not forget that many foreign run companies must have a 4 to 1 Thai/expat employee ratio. I wouldn't want to pay a penny for every Thai ID card that is used just for attaining that ratio. Result: skewed low unemployment rate.

[ppmacready]

You need to take such figures in Thailand with a very large dose of Salt.

Many Thais have never been officially "employed" and therefore the "unemployment" statistics are very doubtful.

They are simply a guess.

There is no" unemployment benefits" or "dole" here in Thailand, and many people actually working have never been registered as "working" with any government agency.

That's why so few are "unemployed".

Take my Thai girlfriends daughter and her daughter's husband as an example.

They rent a stall in a local market, and sell costume jewelry for a living. They work very hard buying jewelry, cleaning and packaging it, and stocking it in their stall to sell.

They work about 10 hours every day, and at least 2 or 3 times a month they travel outside of Bangkok to factories to buy new stock...... which means leaving Bangkok at 4 a.m. to travel to the factory and selecting and buying new stock. That is a 12 to 14 hour day. The next day they clean and package the goods to sell, a 12 hour process at least.

None of that is recorded anywhere by any government body, and officially they are "unemployed" and have never been "employed".

Bottom line ..... in Thailand the figures don't mean a thing .... they are all for show.

I would guess that a good 50% of the actual workers in Thailand are not recorded as 'employed" anywhere in government statistics. For another example, workers hired by the day and paid by the day are not counted by the government.

Many are "self-employed" and not covered by "statistics" anywhere.

Government statistics simply can't be trusted in Thailand.

This is not the EU or the U.S. where everything is monitored.

Except speech!

[techboy]

You are on the wrong track using population. Thailand's low unemployment number comes from the ready availability of work as agricultural labor.

[A1Str8]

Don't be shy then. Let's be honest. Thailand is an unemployment hub now.

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