Prospects for hiring in some industries

The company has launched 'Adecco Salary Guide 2008/2009' as a guide for recruitment and remuneration in 2009.

The guide will include salary information by professions and business sectors and the highest/lowest salary rate analysis from juniors through senior management positions.

Salaries for senior management positions in pharmaceutical ranges from Bt200,000 at minimum to Bt350,000 maximum per month for this year throughout next year.

At the same position level, jobs in oil and gas, which is considered a 'moving zone' for labour opportunities this year, varied from Bt80,000 to Bt300,000 monthly. The minimum rate for junior positions is Bt15,000 a month.

Automotive is one of three industries that is expected to see job cuts, due to the effects of the global economic slowdown. Salaries vary from Bt120,000 to Bt200,000 per month for senior management positions. Other industries are electronics and garment.

Senior management positions in the finance sector (non-banking) are expected to receive between Bt85,000 to Bt250,000 per month. Meanwhile, IT jobs in large-scale firms range from Bt150,000 to Bt250,000 per month. Pay for engineers in the manufacturing sector is between Bt85,000 and Bt200,000 monthly.

The minimum rates for junior positions in automobile, finance, IT and engineers range from Bt10,000 to Bt15,000 per month.  

"The hiring situation and the labour market next year will affect the new salary structure. During the past, the employers mostly focused on the highest salary rate. However in 2009, they would consider the average rate for hiring instead," said Tidarat Kanchanawat, country manager of Adecco Group Thailand.

She said in 2009, there would be downsizing in demand for skilled workforce with high pay. Purchasing power of workers will be at a low level next year as well as downsizing and job-cutting in some organisations will be much more, especially in the automobile industry.

Tidarat said job hiring in the oil and gas industry had started to slow down this year.

She suggested that when companies see an alarm signal, they should follow four steps to cope with upcoming unpredictable situations:lReduce all costs lFreeze head counts lCompanies should retain their workers

lJob cuts as the final step.

However, job cutting will have to be based on social responsibility.

"When jobs disappear, the firm should consider how deeply they would affect other positions," said Tidarat.

Meanwhile, employees should develop their abilities to become multi-skilled.