Many senior executives of the Bank of Thailand will retire in the next few years and could force the central bank to recruit more outsiders to fill the vacancies.
According to Krungthep Turakij newspaper, 22 senior executives ranging from department director to assistant governor will retire between this year and 2013, citing a source at the central bank.
The bank has therefore braced for a possible shortage of qualified senior personnel, the source said.
If the central bank cannot fill the vacant jobs with younger generations, it may be forced to import outsiders, he said.
One factor contributing to the problem is that central bank staff are not allowed to go on leave to further their education, so some of them resign for studies and then seek new jobs.
"In the past the central bank attracted qualified staff, but now there are many new prominent organisations such as PTT and Siam Cement Group that draw people's attention," the source said.
Bank of Thailand governor Tarisa Watanagase, who is to step down by the end of this month, said the bank could train younger staff by rotating their job responsibilities, which would allow them to learn more.
She admitted, however, that over time, the central bank would not be able to find qualified personnel inside the organisation and would have to recruit senior managers from outside.
She also said the bank was considering relaxing the rule prohibiting staff from temporarily leaving for further education.