Women's skills development training for income generation

The number of trainees in the courses organized by the Department of Skills Development declined by 35% from 161,348 to 103,846 during 2002-2006. But the proportion of women steadily increased. In 2006, women constituted 48.3% of the trainees, an increase from 41.8% in 2002. The increase took place in every region, except for the Central Region.

Indicator 6.2 Proportion of Job Placement and Job Placement Success Rate for Women in Thailand and Abroad

Women and men should have equal access to assistance in employment counseling, job registration and job placement. In some societies, women are regarded as inferior workforce, or they face more barriers, lack access to labour market information and other institutional support.

Job placement in Thailand and overseas

Women accounted for a larger share of job placement, and women’s share increase from 52.4% in 2002 to 59.4% in 2006, with the highest percentage in the South. The rate of successful job placement for women was, however, lower than men’s in 2002-2003. Since then, women were more successful. In 2006, women’s placement success rate was 43.2% compared with men’s 39.8%. The same pattern was observed in every region except for Bangkok.

Proportion of women departing for work abroad during 2002-2006 was approximately 15%.

Indicator 6.3 Labour Participation Rate

The workforce is an important production input. Women participation in the workforce has significant impacts on their quality of life and national socio-economic development.

Labour participation rate

In 2006, total labour participation rate was 73%, 74% in the rural areas and 70.7% in the urban area. The South had the highest labour participation rate. Women lagged behind men in every area.

Indicator 6.4 Unemployment Rate

Unemployment is one of key indicators of the state of the economy and the well-being of the people.

Unemployment rate

Indicator 6.5 Ratio of Women's to Men's Income from Waged Employment in Non-Agricultural Sector

In the agricultural sector, work is often shared among family members and it is difficult to distinguish between men’s and women’s earnings. But professionals and workers in the non-agricultural sector are individually employed and compensated. This indicator highlights the difference between women’s and men’s income. By law, men and women are entitled to the same pay for the same work, but women may be disadvantaged in other aspects that have an impact on the income level. For example, they may have fewer opportunities to work overtime, less chance in career advancement, etc.

WomenÊs income from waged employment in non-agricultural sector

Ratio of women’s to men’s income from waged employment in non-agricultural sector in 2006 was 0.94, an increase from 0.90 in 2005. The increase took place in every region except the North. Nonetheless, women’s income level was still lower than men’s in every part of the country.

Indicator 6.6 Ratio of Women to Men in Waged Employment in Non-Agricultural Sector

This indicator shows the level of participation in waged employment in non-agricultural sector by women and men.

Women's participation in waged employment in non-agricultural sector

Ratio of women to men in waged employment in non-agricultural sector in 2006 was 0.82, a slight drop from 0.83 in 2005. This trend was observed in every region except for Bangkok.

Indicator 6.7 Proportion of Women in the Labour Unions

A labour union represents workers’ collective strength in protecting and advancing their rights and interests. Women’s participation as members or executives of the labour union helps strengthen the bargaining power of the labour union as well as promote gender equality in the workplace.

Women's participation in the labour unions

In 2005, 4,645 women were executives of the 1,399 labour unions. This represented 32% of total labour union executives. Total members of the labour unions were 311,344, but there are no gender disaggregated data.

Female executives in the private sector

In 2006, there were 139 female directors of the 218 companies registered at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. They accounted for 21.6% of a total of 642 directors. The share of female directors of the companies registered at the Ministry of Commerce was higher – at 35%.

Indicator 6.9 Provision of Unpaid Domestic Services

(1) Hours on unpaid household maintenance by population 10 years and over

In the Thai society, women are responsible for household maintenance. Having to spend several hours on unpaid household work, women do not have enough time for self-development.

Women and household maintenance

Thai people spent an average of 2.3 hours per day on unpaid household maintenance. Urban people spent slightly more time than the rural people. Bangkokians spent 2.6 hours per day, which was more than people in other regions. The Northeasterners spent the least time – 2.2 hours.

On average, women spent 2.7 hours per day compared with 1.5 hours by men. The largest gender gap was in the rural North where women spent 2.8 hours per day compared with 1.4 hours per day by men.

2) Hours on unpaid care for own household members

Besides household maintenance, Thai women are also the main care givers in the family. They take care of children and the elderly. This responsibility is time-consuming and most women find it difficult to balance between taking care of others and taking care of themselves.

Women and care-giving

Thai people spent 2.9 hours per day taking care of family members, i.e. children and the elderly, without pay. Rural people spent 3 hours per day while urban people spent 2.6 hours per day. The Northeasterners spent the most time - 3.2 hours per day, while the Southerners spent the least time - 2.6 hours per day.

Women spent 3.3 hours per day compared with 2 hours per day by men. The largest gender gap was in the rural North where women spent 3.5 hours per day compared with 1.8 hours by men. The smallest gender gap was in Bangkok and the South.

Indicator 6.10 Proportion of Non-Formal Workers

Non-formal workers are part of the productive workforce that make considerable contribution to the economy, but lack legal protection and social security. About three-fifths of the employed belong to this category. These data are therefore valuable for planning an adequate and appropriate protection and security to the Thai workforce.

Non-formal workers

In 2006, workers in the non-formal sector accounted for 61.5% (33.6% male and 27.8% female) of the employed workforce. The largest proportion was in the Northeast. The majority of men in non-formal sector were in the urban area, while the majority of women in non-formal sector were in the rural area.

Indicator 6.11 Proportion of Population Desiring Skills/Capacity Development

These data are useful for planning skills development, capacity development programmes.

Population desiring skills/capacity development

In 2007, population 15 years and over was estimated to be 50.8 million, 24.6 male and 26.2 female. Out of this total, 9.2 millions or 18.2% wanted skills/capacity development. This included 4.5 million men and 4.7 women. The proportion of population desiring the training was 18.4% among men and 18% among women. 20.9% of rural population wanted skills/capacity development, compared with 12.2% among urban population. The proportion was highest among the Northeasterners at 27.3%, followed by the Northerners at 21.3%, the Southerners 15.9%, those in the Central Region 10.3% and the Bangkokians 7.1%.

Indicator 6.12 Migration Rate

Migration has significant socio-economic impacts on the family, community and national development. Migration data are therefore very useful for planning and monitoring various aspects of development.

Migration situation

During 2005-2006, migration rates dropped from 4.9% to 3.6% for men and 3.8% to 3.1% for women. In 2006, out of 65.45 million population, 2.18 million or 3.3% were migrants. Among the

2.18 million migrants, 1.15 million were men, 1.03 million women.

Migration rate was highest in the Central Region at 4.1%, followed by the North and the South at 3.5%, the Northeast at 3.2% and Bangkok at 1.4%, respectively. The Northeast had the largest number of migrants – approximately 715,000, followed by 650,000 in the Central Region, 410,000 in the North, 310,000 in the South, and 93,000 in Bangkok.

Most male migrants were in the workforce. 83.6% of male migrants were employed, compared with 63.2% female migrants. 11.1% of male migrants were not in the workforce, compared with 32.9%

Indicator 6.13 Average Time of Population 10 Years and over by Activity

Women and men spend time on the daily routine differently. In part, this is determined by the society’s gender perception of the appropriate role and responsibility of women and men, which has an impact on the women’s self-development opportunities.