Project background

The COVID-19 crisis had a negative socio-economic impact on young people in Thailand. Youth experience disruption to education and training, job disruptions through job losses, reduced working hours and earnings, along with deteriorating quality of employment and difficulties in transitioning from school to work and moving between jobs in a recession. With the COVID-19 situation largely improved at the beginning of 2023, Thailand is continuing to move towards a labour market recovery. However, the emergence of multiple economic and political crises worldwide including increase in food and energy prices as well as inflation can affect this recovery process.

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, young people (aged 15-24) in Thailand were in a vulnerable labour market situation. Despite improved educational accessibility for youth, there is still a mismatch between the skills that youth possess, and the skills demanded in the labour market. Moreover, with the increased demand on the capacity of public employment services and skills development providers during the COVID-19 crisis, the uncertainty over the recovery, and a changing world of work, further strengthening of institutional capacities is required to tackle the challenges encountered by young people and to connect them to the labour market. These employment challenges have resulted in youth facing various obstacles when transitioning from school to work with many young people remaining excluded from employment opportunities.

Objectives

The Young Futuremakers Thailand-Phase II project is a part of the Futuremakers by Standard Chartered initiative and takes a strategic approach to focus on systemic and integrated support for disadvantaged young women and men, through the provision of demand-led technical skills training, employability training, career guidance and job placements.

The project aims

• Improving employment-related knowledge, skills and labour market transitions of disadvantaged youth
• Strengthening institutional capacities to provide skills development and employment services

Together, the project components seek to improve the employability of young people including young persons with disabilities, through skills, knowledge, and competencies that will enhance their ability to enter the labour market, secure and retain a job, cope with change, and be better prepared for a rapidly changing world of work.

The project is implemented in close collaboration with local partners and key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labour through the Department of Employment and Department of Skill Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Employers’ Confederation of Thailand and sectoral business associations, Workers’ organizations, and enterprises, communities, and associations working with youth.

For further information please contact:

Ms Kawita Niwatananun
National Project Coordinator
Email: niwatananun@ilo.org