Unemployment in Thailand falls to two-year low

The unemployment rate declined to 1.53% in Q1’2022, from 1.64% in Q4’2021, and 2.25% in Q3’2021, the lowest rate since the pandemic began.
By: | May 26, 2022
Topics: News | Recruitment | Thailand

Thailand’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest since the start of COVID-19, reflecting an improvement in employment in both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. 

The unemployment rate declined to 1.53% in 1Q2022, from 1.64% in Q4’2021, and 2.25% in Q3’2021. In Q1’2022, the total workforce amounted to 39.6 million, up 2.3% from 38.7 million year-on-year. 

The agricultural sector employed 11.4 million workers, showing a 3% rise due to increased production of agricultural products in key crops, while the non-farm sector employed 27.3 million people, reflecting a 3% hike, writes Bangkok Post. 

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Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), noted that the number of unemployed people who had never worked before had risen to 260,000 people, a 5.2% increase over the first quarter of last year, and flagged it as an issue that needed further monitoring.