Thailand: Fostering Private Participation in the Development of Labor Force Skills

摘要

The study examines constraints to developing labor force skills in Thailand, highlighting the private and public responses thereto and the shortcomings of the Thai education system, and proposes a strategy for future Agency for International Development (A.I.D.) assistance. The most significant labor force gaps are found in the areas of engineering, management, technical/skilled labor, and English-language skills. Thailand's private higher educational system has expanded rapidly and in the future will play a larger role in bridging these gaps, but currently faces several problems in regard to the quantity and quality of faculty, the relevance of the curriculum, and pedagogical skills. To address these constraints, the study recommends that A.I.D. strategy focus on: fostering the development of mutually beneficial partnerships between business and educational institutions to address labor force needs; fostering linkages to utilize U.S. expertise in education and training to lessen the Thai labor force gap; and supporting private sector efforts to influence policies affecting labor skills development.