Thai unemployment rate almost reaches 500,000 in June 2014

[webfact]

Unemployment rate almost reaches 500,000 in June 2014

BANGKOK, 28 July 2014 (NNT) - The National Statistical Office (NSO) has revealed that the unemployment rate in June 2014 stands at 448,000, which is an increase of 200,000 people when compared to the same period last year.

People working in the service and trading sector faced the highest unemployment, with 130,000 people being out of jobs, closely followed by the manufacturing sector at 70,000 people, and the agricultural sector at 40,000 people.

However, unemployment has also affected new graduates who have not entered the workforce yet. Statistics show as many as 160,000 university graduates and 100,000 high school graduates are unable to find jobs in the month of June as this is the period when the market is flooded with new graduates.


-- NNT 2014-07-28

[Thai at Heart]

What happened? They counting better?

[Prbkk]

Suthep has a lot to answer for....

[canopus1969]

There can be only 2 reasons for not finding a job - lack of English or just plain lazy (maybe both ?)

[Costas2008]

Not surprized, Thai youth nowadays, will not accept any job if they don't think it's suitable for their qualifications or standard.

They prefer to stay at home and sleep all day.

there are about 500,000 foreigners from Cambodia, Laos, Burma that accept to take all the jobs, that Thais feel inferior for them.

In the UK, some years ago, I was involved with a local council and I was amazed to see many, newly qualified, Architects, Lawyers, Civil Engineers sweeping the roads of the council or emptying the bins of the borrow.

Factories are crying for employees in Thailand.

There should be no unemployment at all.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Costas2008

[ginjag]

Suthep has a lot to answer for....

Typical reply--expected of you.

Low season, exports down, students not working, laziness--not wanting manual/hard work, tourism down due to ???

All Sutheps fault, nothing to do with the ex non governing corrupt government, pathetic reply.

[binnsy1]

The amount of people i see riding around on there motorbikes I would have thought it would have been a lot higher.

[Brit_Doggie]

Naturally unemployment levels are like this due to the fact that thais employ filipinos/cambodians etc for less wages than they have to pay the thais.

Bearing in mind the expected crackdown on border runs the more they reject the figures will go down, then i can get my gf to get a second job as leo beer increasing in price soon and i will find it hard to manage on my income (joke)

[GeckosDiving]

Suthep has a lot to answer for....

You should be called The Scarecrow ! Now what didn't the Scarecrow have ?

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[JohnThailandJohn]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

[ChrisY1]

Suthep has a lot to answer for....

Not as much as Thaksin......anyway..Suthep is a monk now.....all is forgiven!!

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

Officially yes.

That said, do you really believe that figure?

[robblok]

Suthep has a lot to answer for....

Taksin of course without his name on the amnesty the PTP would still be in power.. a nice reminder that one can overreach and loose it all.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

Officially yes.

That said, do you really believe that figure?

What conspiracy theory do you suspect would make you doubt this while other nations and global organizations don't? Do you even know how this figure is measured here and in other countries and what the definition means? How many Thais do you know looking for and unable to find work?

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

Officially yes.

That said, do you really believe that figure?

What conspiracy theory do you suspect would make you doubt this while other nations and global organizations don't? Do you even know how this figure is measured here and in other countries and what the definition means? How many Thais do you know looking for and unable to find work?

Been through this extensively on another thread.

Many ways that the Thai number doesn't make it entirely comparable with the west. Actively seeking employment, definition of employment, Definiton of paid work, the role of defining agricultural labour in comparison with the west etc etc.

[Thailand]

There can be only 2 reasons for not finding a job - lack of English or just plain lazy (maybe both ?)

You do know we are talking about Thailand do you?

[Thailand]

I guess the 200,000 up on the same period as last year will mainly be down to the crashing tourism and associated businesses.

Only the beginning, look for double that figure this time next year unless there are drastic changes in policy.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

Officially yes.

That said, do you really believe that figure?

What conspiracy theory do you suspect would make you doubt this while other nations and global organizations don't? Do you even know how this figure is measured here and in other countries and what the definition means? How many Thais do you know looking for and unable to find work?

Been through this extensively on another thread.

Many ways that the Thai number doesn't make it entirely comparable with the west. Actively seeking employment, definition of employment, Definiton of paid work, the role of defining agricultural labour in comparison with the west etc etc.

You have no idea what you are talking about. The definition is those who are able and actively seeking work but not working ... same definition in most places including the US.

Do yourself a favor and do a little research. Numerous Asian countries have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. While no figures can be exact the definition and the rate is accepted by the world (those that matter - not internet posters)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/07/14/world.comparison.unemployment/

http://www.worldfinance.com/home/top-5/top-5-countries-with-the-lowest-unemployment

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2129rank.html

http://www.esri.go.jp/jp/workshop/120803/120803-05.pdf

What unemployment rates don't tell you is average income, hours worked per week, high paying vs. low paying jobs, people who don't work but are not looking and tons of others things including how many working people are still in poverty but the way it is measured here is the acceptable standard internationally and the same goes for the way the data is gathered.

Edited July 28, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[trogers]

Take a walk through a few major shopping malls and note down the signs being posted outside the entrances of shops and restaurants stating staff wanted.

Jobs are available for those seeking them. Problem for those unemployed are they are either too lowly educated for the jobs, or too choosy.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

Officially yes.

That said, do you really believe that figure?

What conspiracy theory do you suspect would make you doubt this while other nations and global organizations don't? Do you even know how this figure is measured here and in other countries and what the definition means? How many Thais do you know looking for and unable to find work?

Been through this extensively on another thread.

Many ways that the Thai number doesn't make it entirely comparable with the west. Actively seeking employment, definition of employment, Definiton of paid work, the role of defining agricultural labour in comparison with the west etc etc.

You have no idea what you are talking about. The definition is those who are able and actively seeking work but not working ... same definition in most places including the US.

Do yourself a favor and do a little research. Numerous Asian countries have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. While no figures can be exact the definition and the rate is accepted by the world (those that matter - not internet posters)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/07/14/world.comparison.unemployment/

http://www.worldfinance.com/home/top-5/top-5-countries-with-the-lowest-unemployment

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2129rank.html

http://www.esri.go.jp/jp/workshop/120803/120803-05.pdf

Went through this at length elsewhere. Not going to bother. When there are 10mn in hand to mouth labour and that counts as employed, but in the west the amount of employed persons in agriculture is 90% fewer but everything is mechanised, it is a crucial, enormous difference.

Yes by the global definition unemployment is 1%, but as with everything in economics is it great that Uncle Somchai and Auntie Sureeporn are on the farm employed but living on less than 300 baht a day? And that cousin Nattaporn is coming back from his 300 baht construction job for the rice season?

[JohnThailandJohn]

Went through this at length elsewhere. Not going to bother. When there are 10mn in hand to mouth labour and that counts as employed, but in the west the amount of employed persons in agriculture is 90% fewer but everything is mechanised, it is a crucial, enormous difference.

Yes by the global definition unemployment is 1%, but as with everything in economics is it great that Uncle Somchai and Auntie Sureeporn are on the farm employed but living on less than 300 baht a day? And that cousin Nattaporn is coming back from his 300 baht construction job for the rice season?

Why do you start off saying the rate is not right and then come back and say the opposite and then name other things that have nothing to do with the rate? My first and only comment was the unemployment rate was below 1% and you doubted that and now you say it is an accepted figure but blah blah blah. As I stated above the unemployment numbers have NOTHING to do with pay, cost of living, hours worked, poverty, type of work, hours worked and so on .. it is simply a measure of those able to work, looking for work but not working (the most common definition across the globe). As I first responded, you should understand what unemployment measures before arguing about it.

Edited July 28, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[trogers]

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

Officially yes.

That said, do you really believe that figure?

What conspiracy theory do you suspect would make you doubt this while other nations and global organizations don't? Do you even know how this figure is measured here and in other countries and what the definition means? How many Thais do you know looking for and unable to find work?

Been through this extensively on another thread.

Many ways that the Thai number doesn't make it entirely comparable with the west. Actively seeking employment, definition of employment, Definiton of paid work, the role of defining agricultural labour in comparison with the west etc etc.

You have no idea what you are talking about. The definition is those who are able and actively seeking work but not working ... same definition in most places including the US.

Do yourself a favor and do a little research. Numerous Asian countries have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. While no figures can be exact the definition and the rate is accepted by the world (those that matter - not internet posters)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/07/14/world.comparison.unemployment/

http://www.worldfinance.com/home/top-5/top-5-countries-with-the-lowest-unemployment

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2129rank.html

http://www.esri.go.jp/jp/workshop/120803/120803-05.pdf

Went through this at length elsewhere. Not going to bother. When there are 10mn in hand to mouth labour and that counts as employed, but in the west the amount of employed persons in agriculture is 90% fewer but everything is mechanised, it is a crucial, enormous difference.

Yes by the global definition unemployment is 1%, but as with everything in economics is it great that Uncle Somchai and Auntie Sureeporn are on the farm employed but living on less than 300 baht a day? And that cousin Nattaporn is coming back from his 300 baht construction job for the rice season?

Problem of cousin Nattaporn is that he is barely twenty and has a wife and kid living on his Bt300 a day.

Edited July 28, 2014 by trogers

[Thai at Heart]

Went through this at length elsewhere. Not going to bother. When there are 10mn in hand to mouth labour and that counts as employed, but in the west the amount of employed persons in agriculture is 90% fewer but everything is mechanised, it is a crucial, enormous difference.

Yes by the global definition unemployment is 1%, but as with everything in economics is it great that Uncle Somchai and Auntie Sureeporn are on the farm employed but living on less than 300 baht a day? And that cousin Nattaporn is coming back from his 300 baht construction job for the rice season?

Why do you start off saying the rate is not right and then come back and say the opposite and then name other things that have nothing to do with the rate? My first and only comment was the unemployment rate was below 1% and you doubted that and now you say it is an accepted figure but blah blah blah. As I stated above the unemployment numbers have NOTHING to do with pay, cost of living, hours worked, poverty and so on .. it is simply a measure of those able to work, looking for work but not working (the most common definition across the globe). As I first responded, you should understand what unemployment measures before arguing about it.

I didn't say it wasn't right. I asked if it was believable.

So get off your high horse and note the caveats of the local market and what it means instead of jumping around parroting false triumphs of the Thai economy.

And you are absolutely wrong about hours worked for the definition of employment. There is a minimum over a time period for the measurement as to whwther someone is statistically employed.

Edited July 28, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[JohnThailandJohn]

Went through this at length elsewhere. Not going to bother. When there are 10mn in hand to mouth labour and that counts as employed, but in the west the amount of employed persons in agriculture is 90% fewer but everything is mechanised, it is a crucial, enormous difference.

Yes by the global definition unemployment is 1%, but as with everything in economics is it great that Uncle Somchai and Auntie Sureeporn are on the farm employed but living on less than 300 baht a day? And that cousin Nattaporn is coming back from his 300 baht construction job for the rice season?

Why do you start off saying the rate is not right and then come back and say the opposite and then name other things that have nothing to do with the rate? My first and only comment was the unemployment rate was below 1% and you doubted that and now you say it is an accepted figure but blah blah blah. As I stated above the unemployment numbers have NOTHING to do with pay, cost of living, hours worked, poverty and so on .. it is simply a measure of those able to work, looking for work but not working (the most common definition across the globe). As I first responded, you should understand what unemployment measures before arguing about it.

I didn't say it wasn't right. I asked if it was believable.

So get off your high horse and note the caveats of the local market and what it means instead of jumping around parroting false triumphs of the Thai economy.

You make no sense and keep contradicting yourself -- As I said, the unemployment rate in Thailand is below 1%. You keep going back and fourth. Even in your short post above you start off saying you didn't say it was not right then you end by saying I said something false about the Thai economy and the unemployment rate is the ONLY thing I said about the Thai economy.

Are you really this insecure here that a simple unemployment figure in a country whose people in general live in much worse conditions than the west has you upset to the point of senseless emotional and irrational argument?

Edited July 28, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[JohnThailandJohn]

Take a walk through a few major shopping malls and note down the signs being posted outside the entrances of shops and restaurants stating staff wanted.

Jobs are available for those seeking them. Problem for those unemployed are they are either too lowly educated for the jobs, or too choosy.

A lot to do with why those shops and restaurants are largely staffed by foreign workers now. Wasn't so much the case before the increase in the minimum wage. Not expressing an opinion on the minimum wage but agreeing that the jobs now are seen as too low for many young Thais.

[JohnThailandJohn]

And you are absolutely wrong about hours worked for the definition of employment. There is a minimum over a time period for the measurement as to whwther someone is statistically employed.

Once again you are not talking about unemployment but rather underemployment. And once again, I will suggest you understand what unemployment measures before arguing about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underemployment

Underemployment is when a worker is employed, but his or her work hours and/or wages are less than what the worker seeks or has been previously at.

Unemployment is the measure of people able to work and looking for work but not working.

Edited July 28, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[AGareth2]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

That would imply that there are more than 50 million workers in this country!

[Thai at Heart]

Went through this at length elsewhere. Not going to bother. When there are 10mn in hand to mouth labour and that counts as employed, but in the west the amount of employed persons in agriculture is 90% fewer but everything is mechanised, it is a crucial, enormous difference.

Yes by the global definition unemployment is 1%, but as with everything in economics is it great that Uncle Somchai and Auntie Sureeporn are on the farm employed but living on less than 300 baht a day? And that cousin Nattaporn is coming back from his 300 baht construction job for the rice season?

Why do you start off saying the rate is not right and then come back and say the opposite and then name other things that have nothing to do with the rate? My first and only comment was the unemployment rate was below 1% and you doubted that and now you say it is an accepted figure but blah blah blah. As I stated above the unemployment numbers have NOTHING to do with pay, cost of living, hours worked, poverty and so on .. it is simply a measure of those able to work, looking for work but not working (the most common definition across the globe). As I first responded, you should understand what unemployment measures before arguing about it.

I didn't say it wasn't right. I asked if it was believable.

So get off your high horse and note the caveats of the local market and what it means instead of jumping around parroting false triumphs of the Thai economy.

You make no sense and keep contradicting yourself -- As I said, the unemployment rate in Thailand is below 1%. You keep going back and fourth. Even in your short post above you start off saying you didn't say it was not right then you end by saying I said something false about the Thai economy and the unemployment rate is the ONLY thing I said about the Thai economy.

Are you really this insecure here that a simple unemployment figure in a country whose people in general live in much worse conditions than the west has you upset to the point of senseless emotional and irrational argument?

It is on paper 1% with the extremely obvious caveat that Thailand has an enormous subsistence level farming population and an enormous amount of underemployment.

So, the issue is, that just like anywhere in the world , if you just loom at the stat, its 1%, but it is very worthy of investigation and should be understood before comparison with the west.

If everyone is crying out for workers how come starting salaries are so incredibly low and there are often many multiple applicants for the same jobs?

If enemployment is so low, how did it take my niece a year to find a job paying more than 12k per month. Surely wage inflation would be going bonkers without the need for minimum wage changes?

[JohnThailandJohn]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Thailand unemployment rate is still under 1%

That would imply that there are more than 50 million workers in this country!

Only if you dont't know what unemployment measures. So you understand the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the total labour force (not the population). The unemployed would be those looking for work while the total labor force would be those working plus those looking for work. It doesn't measure people not looking for work be they 80, a baby or a person of working age for whatever reasons chooses not to work or look for work.

Edit - My apology, I misread your post. As for the over all rate, it may go up over 1% if the numbers in this article are correct but I have not seen any official figures for 2014 or prior recent years that have put it over 1% --- I think through April it was .9 something percent.

Edited July 28, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[JohnThailandJohn]

It is on paper 1% with the extremely obvious caveat that Thailand has an enormous subsistence level farming population and an enormous amount of underemployment.

So, the issue is, that just like anywhere in the world , if you just loom at the stat, its 1%, but it is very worthy of investigation and should be understood before comparison with the west.

If everyone is crying out for workers how come starting salaries are so incredibly low and there are often many multiple applicants for the same jobs?

If enemployment is so low, how did it take my niece a year to find a job paying more than 12k per month. Surely wage inflation would be going bonkers without the need for minimum wage changes?

Once again you are off on issues that have nothing to with my simply stating the unemployment rate in Thailand. I was not comparing it to the west, I originally stated it as a comment regarding the the OP about the number of unemployed in Thailand currently (not the west).