The National Economic and Social Development Board said that improved income and the availability of educational opportunities have contributed to better education among workers, said Ampon Kittampon, secretary-general of the NESDB.

Employed skilled workers who finished vocational school increased to 7.3 per cent of all workers in the first quarter, up from 7 per cent in the same period of 2004, said Ampon. White-collar workers graduating from university rose to 10.1 per cent of all workers in the first quarter this year from 9.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2004.

Workers who finished only primary and secondary schools dropped to 59.6 per cent of all workers, from 60.4 per cent in the same period last year and 62 per cent the year before. The pace of growth of higher education among employed people may not be strong but it was a good trend, he said. It also takes time before significant changes take place as a result of education, he added.

A change of attitude towards vocational education in the past few years has contributed to more students entering vocational schools. Parents and their children had traditionally held a negative attitude toward vocational education. "That has changed after the government launched a campaign in the past two years and students are confident they could become entrepreneurs after they finish their

courses," explained Ampon.

Unemployment in the first quarter this year also dropped to 1.55 per cent from 2.29 per cent in the same period last year. Higher economic growth of 6 per cent from January to March contributed to higher employment.

Employed labourers were 34.83 million, up from 34.25 million, a 1.7 per cent rise year on year. The total labour force is 35.72 million. The agricultural sector employs 12.18 million, up by 6.05 per cent, due to expansion of farm production, particularly rice, sugar cane and chicken farming.

However, employment in the non-agricultural sector dropped slightly by 0.49 per cent to 22.65 million. Skyrocketing oil prices have caused private companies to adjust their production. Manufacturing employment fell by 1.2 per cent to 6.74 million in the first quarter. The transport sector employed 1.13 million, down from 1.14 million year on year.

Unemployment was the highest in the Northeast at 1.87 per cent, but it dropped from 3.2 per cent in the same period last year. Unemployment was the lowest at 1.09 per cent in the South due to the rising price of rubber. Unemployment in the Central region was 1.56 per cent and in the Northern region at 1.47 per cent.

As economic growth is slowing, the employment rate will fluctuate along with economic growth, added one official. The NESDB said yesterday GDP growth in 2007 is likely to be in the range of 5 to 6 per cent.

Ampon said next year's growth would be in the forecast range as long as inflation does not rise beyond this year's projected range of 4.5 to 4.7 per cent, and positive momentum is maintained in government spending and exports.

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation