What are Thai workers looking for in 2025? How is AI impacting the job market? We dive deep into these questions, revealing crucial trends that are shaping the future of work. Let's break down the key findings and what they mean for both businesses and job seekers.
Work-Life Balance and Growth: The Driving Forces
The Thai workforce is on the move. A significant 93% of respondents are open to new opportunities, with 40% actively searching – a 3% increase from last year. This highlights a dynamic and competitive job market. Online job boards, recruitment agencies, company websites, and LinkedIn remain the go-to platforms for job seekers.
Beyond salary, work-life balance and professional development are the top priorities. Notably, the emphasis on work-life balance has surged from 58% in 2023 to 67% in 2024. This reflects a growing awareness of the importance of healthy work-life integration, signaling a clear shift in worker expectations.
Digitization and AI: Transforming the Workplace
Digitization and flexible work models are reshaping workplaces across various industries, particularly in IT, service/consulting, and construction/engineering. Generative AI (GenAI) is making a significant impact in service/consulting, while automation is gaining momentum in the automotive sector.
AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it's a daily reality for most Thai workers. Over 83% of respondents use AI in their daily lives, with 26% using it daily. Businesses are leveraging AI for strategic decision-making, language translation, content creation, and research, boosting productivity and automating repetitive tasks.
AI in Recruitment: A Double-Edged Sword
While 67% of job seekers are comfortable with AI in the recruitment process, using it for resume optimization, job matching, and cover letter generation, skepticism remains. Concerns about fairness and unclear functionality highlight the need for greater transparency and user-friendliness.
Despite its potential, AI adoption in recruitment is still relatively low, with only 49% of organizations integrating it into their hiring pipelines. Hiring managers still value the "human touch," particularly in interviews, emphasizing the importance of assessing cultural fit and building long-term relationships.
Bridging the AI Skills Gap: A Critical Imperative
A significant skills gap exists, with only one-third of organizations providing AI training. Workers are primarily learning through self-directed experimentation and online resources. This underscores the urgent need for structured AI training programs and user-friendly tools that encourage hands-on learning.
Key Skills for Career Success: Beyond AI
Beyond AI skills, data analysis, leadership, and management are crucial for career advancement. Specific skills vary across industries, with project management being essential in construction and engineering, and AI/machine learning expertise in high demand in the IT sector. Importantly, over 40% of AI users believe these skills will lead to job offers, promotions, and salary increases.
The Path Forward: Balancing Technology and Human Insight
The Thai labor market is evolving rapidly. Workers are prioritizing work-life balance and professional growth, while digitization and AI are transforming workplaces.
For Businesses:
- Prioritize Work-Life Balance: Offer flexible work arrangements and promote employee well-being.
- Invest in AI Training: Equip employees with the necessary skills to thrive in a digital age.
- Balance AI and Human Touch: Leverage AI to streamline processes while maintaining human oversight in critical areas like interviews.
For Job Seekers:
- Continuously Upskill: Focus on data analysis, leadership, and AI/machine learning.
- Embrace AI as a Tool: Utilize AI for resume optimization and job searching while understanding its limitations.
- Highlight Human Skills: Emphasize soft skills and cultural fit in the recruitment process.
By understanding and adapting to these trends, both businesses and job seekers can navigate the evolving Thai labor market and achieve success.