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Youth

Thailand

The numbers

• Total population 65 million

• Youth 17% = 11 million

• Youth in labor force = 5.3 million

• Youth unemployment is 2.5% = 267,297

(as of 2005)

• Unemployment in Thailand is 1.8% (2008)

Source: Labor Force Survey

Thailand

Where are they working?

Thailand Social Monitor on Youth,

World Bank

Thailand

At present, half of labor force is in Agriculture

what happen next?

Employment & Education

• Formal education:– focus on preparing labor for industrial

sector.– Centrally planned and do not respond to

local/community needs.• Youth lack problem-solving, critical think

skills.

Thailand

• A career plan for a typical youth is: 1. Do well in school Move to cities 2. Do poorly in school Stay at home & don’t know what to do.• Only look for being “employed” rather than creating own livihood.• Minorities/ non-citizen; legally can get education, but without ID can’t get jobs legally.

Thailand

Employment & Education

Recommendation• Teach youth to “learn”• Not only focus on marketable skills and

include other aspects important to developing human capital e.g. civic education, contemplative education

• Education system designed for and by communities e.g. Community College

(with fundings and technical support!)• Support non-formal education with the same

respect esp. agricultural related e.g. young farmers network

Thailand

Recommendation• Support learning by doing e.g. youth

initiatives in development projects.• Venture capital/ seed funds to support

youth initiatives both social and business.

Youth are our future not only factor of production

Thailand