Trend Analysis of Migration Data in Thailand 2019-2023

TREND ANALYSIS OF MIGRATION DATA IN THAILAND 2019-2023 19 STOCK OF LIFETIME MIGRANTS FIGURE 28: LIFETIME MIGRANTS BY EMPLOYMENT STATUS PER YEAR Most lifetime migrants 15 years old and above were employed; however, the proportion of employed lifetime migrants gradually decreased from 70.3 per cent in 2019 to 67.3 per cent in 2023. This shift corresponded with a rise in unemployment, which peaked at 4.7 per cent in 2021 during the pandemic, before declining as conditions stabilized. Meanwhile, the proportion of those out of the labour force rose, reaching 19.2 per cent in 2023. FIGURE 29: LIFETIME MIGRANTS' EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR PER YEAR Like internal and international migrants, the employment sectors among lifetime migrants were grouped into three main sectors: agriculture manufacturing, and service and trade. Similar to internal migrants, lifetime migrants primarily worked in the service and trade sector, which saw a decline between 2019 and 2020, followed by steady decreases until rebounding to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The manufacturing sector, on the other hand, absorbed more lifetime migrants during the pandemic as restrictions limited jobs in service and trade; however, employment in manufacturing declined again between 2022 and 2023. The agricultural sector fluctuated slightly to reach 9.4 per cent in 2023. The central region of Thailand hosted the largest proportion of lifetime migrants, averaging 56.1 per cent between 2019 and 2023. This proportion decreased from 2019 to 2021 but increased again in subsequent years. Other regions remained stable, with notable increases in Bangkok, Northern, and Northeastern Thailand, where the proportions of lifetime migrants increased from 2019 to 2021. FIGURE 30: REGIONS OF CURRENT RESIDENCE AMONG LIFETIME MIGRANTS PER YEAR FIGURE 27: LIFETIME MIGRANTS BY HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ATTAINED PER YEAR Education levels among lifetime migrants in Thailand from 2019 to 2023 showed modest variations. Most had secondary education, followed by primary level while those with no education represented the least mobile category. In 2020, there was a year-on-year decrease in lifetime migrants with upper secondary, post-secondary, and other types of education. In addition, the share of lifetime migrants without any education remained consistent throughout the five-year period, with only a slight decline in 2021. In 2022, the proportion of lifetime migrants with an upper secondary education or higher increased compared to prior years. 1.3% 1.4% 0.7% 1.7% 1.1% 24.2% 25.4% 26.4% 20.5% 24.6% 28.6% 31.7% 23.9% 21.2% 23.7% 26.9% 23.6% 27.9% 32.0% 30.0% 6.0% 4.1% 7.7% 9.2% 7.4% 11.0% 12.2% 12.7% 15.3% 13.0% 2.0% 1.6% 0.8% 0.5% 0.6% 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 None Primary Lower secondary Upper secondary Post-secondary Bachelor's and above Other 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Percent Employed Unemployed Out of labour force Seasonal Less than 15 years old 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Percent Agriculture Manufacturing Service and trade 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Percent Bangkok Central Northern Northeastern Southern