Number of jobless rising
Khao Sod Editorial _ The economic slowdown has increased the number of jobless people in the country, and something must be done. According to figures released by the National Statistical Office in July, 37.37 million Thais _ out of a total population of 65.76 million _ were employed. The number of jobless people was 460,000, an increase of 40,000 from last year.
The majority of people out of work (150,000) were university graduates, followed by people with secondary education (110,000), high school education (99,000) and primary education (70,000). The rest had no education.
According to the NSO, of the total population there were 37.85 million Thais of working age. The NSO noted that the economic slowdown during the past 12 months had contributed to more unemployment, as factories shut down. To survive, many workplaces had reduced the salaries of employees and cut welfare benefits.
Former finance minister M R Pridiyathorn Devakula has expressed concern over this problem, which he said would become a big burden for the next government. Megaprojects involving big investment must be implemented by the next government. Without such investments, the jobless rate would increase, resulting in more social problems, he said. The onus is on the present government to address these pressing economic problems.
Bangkok Post Oct. 12, 2007