NESDB warns about labour shortage

Thailand's labour shortage is likely to continue over the next five years should the Education Ministry fail to improve vocational studies and increase the number of vocational graduates, says the government's planning agency.

Suwannee Khamman, deputy secretary-general to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), said vocational education graduates play a vital role to the industrial sector, which is now in short supply of labour now that fewer students are applying for vocational studies.

More students are opting for the service sector instead of industry, while the present education system focuses on producing university graduates which already exceed demand, Ms Suwannee said.

Vocational schools are not attracting students because they don't believe they will be able to find well-paid jobs after graduating.

Generally there are about 100,000 vocational graduates a year, 70% of whom pursue higher education, with 50,000 higher vocational graduates, and 30% of them seeking further education.

The industrial sector typically demands 55,000 vocational graduates and as many as 83,000 higher vocational graduates a year, she added.

According to the latest survey by the Federation of Thai Industries, six key industries between 2011 and 2015 need 248,862 additional workers.