Youth Employability Scoping Study
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Youth Employability Scoping Study Presented to UNICEF Thailand by Thailand Development Research Institute May,2020 Youth Employability Scoping Study Presented to UNICEF, Thailand By Thailand Development Research Institute May, 2020 Acknowledgements This research would not have been possible without the support of UNICEF Thailand. In particular, the research team would like to thank Juan Santander, Beena Kuttiparambil, Aarti Saihjee, Vilasa Phongsathorn, Tomoo Okubo, Rangsun Wiboonuppatum and Jomkwan Kwanyuen as well as Felix Weidenkaff and Makiko Matsumoto from the ILO for their inputs and support throughout the research process and comments on the drafts of this report. We extend thanks to Phontip Bunsuk, Reth Vuthy and officers from Friends International for providing us with continuous support and assistance in arranging focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with youth in the Juvenile Detention Centre and Suan Aoi Community, Klong Toei, Bangkok. Similarly, we would like to thank teachers and students at Wat Udom Rangsri School for giving up their valuable time for the focus group discussion. Finally, we thank many NGOs, SEs, individuals, private sectors and government officials for their participation in the in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and forum to improve our report. By Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) Edited by Laura Evans Cover designed by Thaninbeer Please contact: Human Resources Policy, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) 565 Ramkhamaeng 39 (Thepleela) Wangthonglang Bangkok 10310 Thailand Tel: 02-718-5460 Fax: 02-718-5461-2 www.tdri.or.th i Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... i Contents .................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... ix List of Acronyms ..................................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. xiv Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Scope of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Objectives ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Research Area and Methodology ...................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Research Area ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.4.2 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Research Structure ............................................................................................................................ 3 Chapter 2: The Situation of Youth Employability in Thailand ........................................... 4 2.1 Overview of Youth Population ......................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Youth in the Labour Market.............................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1 Youth Employment ............................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Youth Unemployment ........................................................................................................... 7 2.2.3 Labour Market Demand ........................................................................................................ 9 2.2.4 Youth Wage and Earning .................................................................................................... 10 2.2.5 Gender Disparity in the Labour Market .............................................................................. 11 2.3 Employability .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3.1 Quality Education and Employability ................................................................................. 11 2.3.2 Changing Patterns and Digitalisation of Recruitment Mechanisms .................................... 12 2.3.3 Youth Entrepreneurship ...................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................................... 14 ii Chapter 3: An Overview of Thailand Institutional Framework on Youth Employability and a Review of Selected Literature..................................................................................... 15 3.1 Thailand’s Policies and Strategies on Youth Employability ........................................................... 15 3.1.1 National Strategy 2018–2037: The 20-Year National Strategy (NS) .................................. 15 3.1.2 The Twelfth National Economic and Social Development Plan (NESDP) 2017–2021. ..... 16 3.1.3 National Scheme of Education (NSE) 2017–2036 .............................................................. 16 3.1.4 Higher Education Policies ................................................................................................... 16 3.1.5 Labour Policies .................................................................................................................... 17 3.1.6 National Youth Policies ...................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Laws related to Youth Employability ............................................................................................. 18 3.3 Implementing Agencies .................................................................................................................. 20 3.4.1 The Situation of Youth ........................................................................................................ 21 3.4.2 Jobs of the Future ................................................................................................................ 22 3.5 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 4: Key Challenges for Youth Employability ........................................................ 25 4.1 Skills Landscape in the Twenty-first Century ................................................................................. 25 4.2 Education and Employability .......................................................................................................... 25 4.3 Mismatch......................................................................................................................................... 26 4.4 School Drop-out Rate ..................................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Career Guidance System ................................................................................................................. 28 4.6 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 5: The NEET Group (Not in Education, Employment or Training) ................. 31 5.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Gender in the NEET group ............................................................................................................. 34 5.3 Household Workers ........................................................................................................................ 35 5.4 A Closer Look ................................................................................................................................. 37 5.5 The Too Young and Unable to Work Group .................................................................................. 38 5.6 The Resting Group .......................................................................................................................... 39 5.7 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 6: Key Players in Youth Skill Development ......................................................... 41 6.1 Skill Development by Government Agencies ................................................................................. 41 6.2 Skill Development by Private Sector and NGOs ............................................................................ 42 6.3 Skill Development by Public