Thailand Is Short of 500,000 Foreign Workers After Government Lifted Most Covid Bans
- Thailand seeks workers from neighbors in Southeast Asia
- Shortage of workers is acute in tourism, fisheries sectors
Thailand is on a recovery path after enduring its steepest contraction in more than two decades in 2020.
Photographer: Andre Malerba/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Thailand faces a shortage of about 500,000 foreign workers in its manufacturing and services sectors to support an economic recovery from the pandemic, with the government having lifted almost all Covid-related travel and business restrictions
A combination of factors including civil strife in Myanmar and virus outbreaks in neighboring countries has led to fewer-than-expected people seeking work in Thailand. Meanwhile, demand for staff is growing, especially in tourism-related sectors as well as labor-intensive industries like construction and fisheries, where Thais reject jobs because of low pay and difficult work conditions.