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Measures Rationale Timeframe Related Domestic Agendas
Strategy 5: Equip the domestic workforce with ICT skills, in preparation for more intense competition in the ASEAN Community (Cont’d)
5.3) Equip Thai labor with basic ICT skills Information and communication technology has become an integral part of economic activity, in every industry 2017 - 2019  Digital Thailand Plan,
or sector. Digital capability, therefore, is essentially a foundation for workforce skill development. In response Strategy 5
to this, the government should incorporate digital training as a part of the primary education curriculum, and
encourage children to prepare for the evolving digital technologies that will affect their economic opportunities.

Currently, the labor shortage is an obstacle to the growth of the ICT industry in Thailand. Not only is the number
of recent graduates in computer sciences low, but there is also a lack of the necessary skill to attract the
interest of employers. This shortage can be attributed to two underlying causes: 1) students are interested in
technology, but only a few go on to study computer science at a postgraduate level or higher and 2) college
curricula are unable to foster skills that match employers’ demands. This also causes employers to turn to
foreign labor as a substitute.

Recommendation
The solution to this problem is twofold. The first course of action is to increase the number of students who
enroll for higher degrees in computer science. The government must also encourage interest among the
younger generation in the career opportunities in this field. In addition, the issue of mismatched labor skills can
be address through curriculum improvement and student guidance. In this way, educational institutions can
properly adjust their attention to focus on developing skills that match the demands of the Thai and ASEAN
ICT industry.

Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Digital Economy and Society