Technology in diverse sectors is still driven by humans.
Due to the continued reliance on human involvement in driving technology across various sectors, the quantity and quality of the skilled workforce emerge as current challenges at the national level. According to the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO)’s findings of the extensive survey on the demands of the private sector in 12 target industries (S-curve), it indicated a significant requirement for highly skilled personnel, totaling 177,606 over the period of 2022 to 2024, with an average of 35,521 individuals per year. The data provided by Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) highlighted that 19,781 graduates annually complete their bachelor’s degree in computer science. However, in the market, the number of new graduates joining the IT industry is less than 3,500 per year. Significant factors leading to the current massive gaps between demand and supply include the insufficient number of graduates for matching the market demands, along with their involvement in irrelevant job sectors after completing their studies. Additionally, comparing Thailand’s workforce structure in this particular field with other countries will provide a clearer picture of the urgency to develop the workforce in this area across all sectors as follows.
The structure of the experts with high digital skills in Thailand, compared to the leading countries
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the digital skills structure is categorized into 5 levels as shown in the image below. The levels are defined as follows: Level 0 represents individuals with no knowledge and experience in digital skills, Level 1 refers to those with basic skills for daily life, Level 2 indicates individuals with foundational digital skills, Level 3 denotes users who leverage digital technology to enhance work productivity, and Level 4 represents experts in digital skills. Additionally, data from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has shown that Thailand has only 0.58 million experts in digital skills (Level 4), accounting for 1% of the population. In comparison, Singapore is at 8%, while Hong Kong, South Korea, and Malaysia are at 3%. When considering the combined levels of 1-4, Thailand only accounts for 28%, whereas Singapore is at 74%, Hong Kong and South Korea are at 80%, and Malaysia is at 71%. This indicates a significantly lower proportion of individuals with basic to expert-level digital skills in Thailand compared to these countries. Furthermore, the Digital Council of Thailand aims to increase the proportion of individuals with digital skills at various levels. The goal is to raise the percentage of individuals with Levels 1-4 from 28% in 2020 to 70% in 2025, in order to compare with leading digital countries worldwide.
Thai business sector is ready to join forces to transcend the challenges
Mr. Teerapan Luengnaruemitchai, Managing Director of T.C.C. Technology Co., Ltd. (TCCtech), emphasized that as a leading digital solutions provider in Thailand, we are committed to participate in the promoting the creation and development of digital skill workforce to meet the demands of businesses. We adopt an inclusive approach to the workforce by welcoming both fresh graduates and experienced professionals, spanning from upstream to downstream. An upstream workforce consists of individuals involved in the creation, design, development, and system management such as ERP, software development, data platforms, cyber security, IoT, cloud, and connectivity. On the other hand, the midstream workforce focuses on data analytics, which is utilized in various sectors, such as MarTech, PropTech, OpTech. Lastly, the downstream workforce is users of core business systems, including ERP, e-procurement, e-tracking, e-commerce, and various utility tools. Additionally, we place a strong emphasis on upskilling and reskilling our current employees and customers to enhance their capabilities within the organization. To achieve this, we have implemented various projects aimed at fostering a digital mindset and promoting digital user adoption, enabling a smooth transition from general users to downstream workers, midstream workers, and upstream workers, respectively. Furthermore, we strive to empower our customers to effectively and efficiently utilize technology, ensuring their superior experience.
Lead the game to strengthen the robust foundations
Mr. Pipit Jariyavattanavijit, Deputy Managing Director – Commercial & Operation of TCCtech, highlighted an active game plan to revolutionize and strengthen the foundation. The focus is on people, shifting from a passive to an assertive game by directly connecting with the leading universities in Thailand. Both recent graduates and experts in the digital domain are welcome to join our team of skilled professionals at TCC Technology Group. This collaborative effort aims to provide valuable training, testing, and real project opportunities. Furthermore, TCCtech’s expertise, derived from their experience in maintaining and building robust digital foundations for businesses within the TCC Technology Group, as well as our valuable clients, both domestically and internationally, will be instrumental in achieving these goals. The following examples are part of this initiative: – Accessibility & Inclusivity: Emphasizing inclusivity by inviting individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills to participate. – Skill Development Workshop: Enhancing skills in areas such as coding, design, entrepreneurship, data analytics, and emerging technologies. – Creating Disruptive & Groundbreaking Solutions: Collaborating with various groups, including developers, designers, and domain experts, to create innovative solutions through programs like Hackathons. – Growing Professional Value: Fellowship Program, offering selected individuals with the opportunity to work on challenging projects, learn, and create new innovation while building long-term relationships with industry experts. These programs are designed to foster an organizational culture that encourages internal strength, out-of-the-box thinking, and the ability to overcome various challenges.
Unleash potentials by harnessing the collective strengths within Tech Ecosystem
Ms. Waleeporn Sayasit, GM of TCCtech, stated that TCCtech is committed to synergize the capabilities within the Tech Ecosystem through accomplished thought leaders across diverse domains by incorporating technology and fostering collaborations with local and global partners through the OPEN-TEC platform to harness its full potential to drive and accelerate digital transformation in Thai society.