Bangkok: Thai labor force remains strong in the second quarter of 2025, with signs of continued recovery and a low unemployment rate of just 0.9%. The Ministry of Labor revealed an overview of the labor economy for the second quarter of 2025, highlighting the stability of the Thai labor market. The report pointed to a high employment rate and continued expansion in the social security system.
According to Thai News Agency, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wanpong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, noted that the labor economy's stability is reflected in the employment and unemployment statistics. The second quarter of 2025 saw Thailand's working-age population (aged 15 years and over) at 59.43 million, with 40.11 million in the labor force and 39.51 million employed. This resulted in an employment rate of 66.5 percent, an increase from the previous quarter, while maintaining a low unemployment rate of 0.9 percent compared to other countries in the region.
The report also detailed the employment situation within the social security system in Q2 2025. The number of insured persons under Section 33 reached 12,159,025, showing a 0.52 percent increase from the previous year and a 0.12 percent increase from the previous quarter. This indicates ongoing growth in formal employment. The number of unemployed persons within the social security system was 241,809, a decrease of 3.98 percent from the previous quarter. Among these, 41,973 were laid off, resulting in a formal unemployment rate of 1.95 percent and a layoff rate of 0.34 percent.
The data on foreign workers with work permits as of September 2025 showed a total of 4,005,283, despite a slight decrease from the previous period. This figure represents a 19.42 percent increase from the previous year. Most of these workers were temporary workers under Section 63/2 who had been properly verified within the system.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wanphong emphasized that the Ministry of Labor remains committed to maintaining the stability of the Thai labor market. The Ministry will continue to promote employment, develop labor skills, ensure legality for foreign workers, and protect labor rights, thereby fostering confidence among Thai workers and supporting the national economy.