AI’s potential impact on employment in Thailand is expected to be limited, with less than 4% of service sector employees facing a high risk of displacement by the technology, as per findings from Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research).
While the majority of business leaders in Thailand, 74% as per a Microsoft and LinkedIn study, express reluctance to hire candidates lacking AI skills, the global investment in AI is surging, exceeding $91.9 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $200 billion annually by 2030, as reported by Goldman Sachs.
Although the implementation of AI is anticipated to lead to the downsizing of up to 300 million global workers, especially impacting Thailand’s service sector, comprising over half of the country’s GDP, the direct vulnerability to AI replacement is estimated to affect only a fraction, approximately 3.5% of total service sector employees.
Sectors like construction and residential construction face comparatively lower risks (90,000 and 180,000 workers respectively), while industries such as finance and professional services are identified as more susceptible, affecting 29,000 and 95,000 workers respectively, according to K-Research.
Advocating for leveraging advanced AI technology, the research unit emphasizes the importance of preparing for the evolving landscape.
Recognizing the growing adoption of AI tools among employees, Dhanawat Suthumpun of Microsoft Thailand highlights the need for businesses to adapt to this trend to maximize the benefits of AI at work.
The recent 2024 Work Trend Index by Microsoft and LinkedIn, based on a survey across 31 countries including Thailand, underscores the increasing integration of AI into daily work routines, with a higher adoption rate in Thailand compared to the global average.
Furthermore, the study reveals a growing emphasis on AI skills among workers, with a noteworthy 90% of Thai leaders preferring candidates with AI expertise over those with more experience.
Consequently, employers in Thailand are willing to offer higher salaries, up to 41%, to attract and retain talent with AI skills, as highlighted in the report “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia-Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future” commissioned by Amazon Web Services and prepared by Access Partnership.
