Thailand: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Thailand?

Thailand's unemployment rate was 1.2% in August 2026, with 508.5 thousand people out of work, according to the National Statistical Office labour force survey. The rate was 0.9% in June and 1.1% in July.

The labour force was 43.06 million people, of whom 42.54 million were employed. Thailand's unemployment rate is low by international standards partly because many people work in farming or informal jobs: the survey counts anyone who worked at least one hour in the survey week as employed. The NSO publishes the survey every month on its labour force page.

Official sources: NSO: Labour force survey, August 2026 (Thai, PDF) · NSO: labour force survey releases

What is youth unemployment in Thailand?

Unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24 in Thailand was 6.9% in August 2026, compared with 0.6% among adults, according to the National Statistical Office labour force survey.

Young people looking for their first job, including recent graduates, make up a large part of the unemployed. The International Labour Organization's modelled estimate, published by the World Bank, puts youth unemployment at 4.5% in 2025; it uses a different method from the monthly survey.

Official sources: NSO: Labour force survey, August 2026 (Thai, PDF) · World Bank: youth unemployment, Thailand

What jobs do people in Thailand do?

In August 2026, 30.1% of employed people in Thailand worked in agriculture, 21.4% in manufacturing and 48.5% in services and trade, according to the National Statistical Office labour force survey.

The labour force participation rate was 72.1% of people aged 15 and over. Women's participation was 59.0% in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate published by the World Bank. 48.0% of workers were in vulnerable employment, meaning self-employed or unpaid family workers, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: NSO: Labour force survey, August 2026 (Thai, PDF) · World Bank: female labour force participation, Thailand · World Bank: vulnerable employment, Thailand

What is the minimum wage in Thailand?

Thailand's statutory minimum wage was equivalent to 8,963 baht a month in 2024, up from 8,710 baht in 2023, according to the International Labour Organization.

Thailand sets its minimum wage as a daily rate, which differs by province and is decided by a national Wage Committee under the Ministry of Labour. The ILO figure converts the rate to a monthly amount for comparison between countries. The current daily rates by province could not be read on the Ministry of Labour website, which blocked automated access on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: ILOSTAT: statutory nominal gross monthly minimum wage, Thailand (CSV) · Ministry of Labour

What is the average income in Thailand?

Average household income in Thailand was 28,308 baht a month in 2025, according to the National Statistical Office household socio-economic survey. Average household spending was 22,420 baht a month.

The figures are for whole households, which may include several earners, so they are not the same as an individual's salary. Gross national income per person was US$7,690 in 2025, according to the World Bank. The NSO's labour force survey also collects wages, published on its labour force page.

Official sources: NSO: household socio-economic survey · NSO: key indicators (homepage) · World Bank: GNI per capita, Thailand · NSO: labour force survey releases

What is the minimum wage in Thailand?

8,963 THB a month (about $254): that is the statutory minimum wage in Thailand for 2024, according to the ILO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012.

What is the average monthly salary in Thailand?

According to the ILO, average monthly earnings of employees in Thailand was $508 a month in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012. Of 57 countries with 2025 data, 42nd highest.

What is the unemployment rate in Thailand?

In 2025, the unemployment rate in Thailand was 0.8%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.2% (2013) to 1.5% (2009). East Asia & Pacific median: 2.9%; Thailand is 23rd highest of 24. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 171st highest.

What is youth unemployment in Thailand?

According to the ILO, unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Thailand was 4.5% in 2025. The peak was 5.9% in 2021 and the low 1.2% in 2013. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 7.5%, and Thailand placed 18th highest of 24. World rank, highest first: 151st of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in Thailand?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 66.7%. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 9th highest of 24 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 65.3%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 47th highest.

How many women in Thailand are working or looking for work?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in Thailand was 59.0%, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2011, at 65.8%; its low point was 2019, at 58.9%. It is 11th highest of 24 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 56.3%. Worldwide: 54th of 174.

What share of adults in Thailand have a job?

In 2025, the employment to population ratio in Thailand was 66.2%, according to the ILO. The peak was 72.7% in 2011 and the low 66.1% in 2021. It is 7th highest of 24 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 63.1%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 31st highest.

What is vulnerable employment in Thailand?

48.0%: that is the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Thailand for 2025, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 56.0%; its low point was 2019, at 47.7%. East Asia & Pacific median: 40.0%; Thailand is 11th highest of 24. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 54th highest.

How many people in Thailand are employees?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 49.3%. Its high point since 2005 was 2019, at 49.7%; its low point was 2007, at 40.4%. East Asia & Pacific median: 56.8%; Thailand is 14th highest of 24. World rank, highest first: 116th of 174.