Thailand Economic Indicators 2018

[StevePIraq]

Attached is the Thailand Economic Indicators October 2018 as issued by the UK FCO.

Very interesting except for one ridiculous statistic. Unemployment rate of 0.7%. I think most would agree the rate is much higher. Thais don't bother to register as unemployed they go out and start a food stall or whatever.

[HHTel]

Thais don't bother to register as unemployed they go out and start a food stall or whatever.

So that makes them 'employed' doesn't it. A different attitude to the UK where benefits are more attractive than trying to do something for oneself!

[StevePIraq]

No it does not, you have to register to be classed as unemployed. Unemployed is defined as actively looking and available for work.
Here Thai's take it upon themselves to fend for themselves. Do you think all the bar girls are registered as unemployed.

Also all the Thai women married to foreigners do they register as unemployed. I doubt it.

Unemployment benefits are covered by the social insurance fund and each worker will contribute 0.5% from their salary which is matched by the employer and added to with 0.25% donated by the Thai government. Remember for most that would only be 1.25% of 300baht per day, which is the minimum wage.

[HHTel]

Unemployed is without a paid job and available for work.

If someone starts up their own business then they 'may' be available for work but are making an income of their own. i.e. self employed.
I think your perspective is completely wrong.

Also all the Thai women married to foreigners do they register as unemployed. I doubt it.

Of course not, just the same as 'housewives' are not registered as unemployed in the UK and elsewhere. You would register as 'unemployed' if you're actively seeking work and in order to get any benefit entitlement.

[buksida]

This must come from the same statisticians that produce TAT's wildly imaginative figures. They're saying there was deflation in 2015 so things should have got cheaper here. Yeah right!

[StevePIraq]

To gain unemployment benefit and therefore be classed as unemployed in Thailand you must have worked previously and paid in to the social insurance fund. Those who have never paid into the fund are not classed as unemployed even if they are unemployed and available for work. They cannot register as unemployed.
By stating the unemployment rate is 0.7% is implying Thailand has one of the most efficient economies in the world.

[HHTel]

For Thailand:

Applicants must have made at least 6 months of contributions in the 15 months prior to claiming. In addition, applicants must:

Apply for registration of the unemployed at the State Unemployment Office within 30 days. Applicants must also be:

Capable of performing the work and is ready to take on suitable job as offered
Must not reject the job training.
Must report to the Employment Office for not less than 1 time per month.
Must not be entitled to old age benefit.
Workers who have been dismissed for misconduct may not be entitled to claim this benefit

And in the UK:

To count as unemployed, people have to say they are not working, are available for work and have either looked for work in the past four weeks or are waiting to start a new job they have already obtained. Someone who is out of work but doesn't meet these criteria counts as "economically inactive".