ManpowerGroup Thailand Focusing on Labor Skills – Education to Accommodate Competition in the World Market

Mr. Simon Matthews, Country Manager for Thailand, Middle East and Vietnam of Manpower Group, who is the leading consultant for Innovative Workforce Solutions in more than 80 countries around the world mentioned that the overall economic situation has been declining as can be seen from China's economic downturn and trade war between the US and China. For Thailand, national election has just been officially confirmed and Eastern Economic Corridor Development (EEC) which is the government's continuous project has been announced, so this period is worth monitoring as there may be many other external factors involving. Nevertheless, Thailand should be prepared for any possible changes by promoting human resources development in terms of labor skills and education enhancement. The government has determined the national policy by focusing on the S-Curve industries to expand the original potential business groups. Business and industry sector should be prepared by improving their personnel's knowledge and high-tech skills which are highly in demand at the present.

Due to economic instability and business competition, many organizations have shifted their focus to effective personnel development, which is in conformity to ManpowerGroup's services. As consultant of labor innovation, we have developed services and solutions which can flexibly support business customers and respond to the market demand in terms of permanent, temporary, contract employment, as well as outsource service. Also, we respond to the rapidly changing trend of globalization by providing Borderless Talent Solutions and recruitment of top management and specialist by Experis who are highly in demand at the present. This conforms to the EEC's economic development policy in that experts in various fields are needed to support investment from the public sector, private sector as well as foreign investors.

The growth rate of ManpowerGroup Thailand in 2018 was 12 percent with the operating result of 4,500 million Baht, plus continuous technological investment to enhance effective service provision of ManpowerGroup. Also, customer feedback was collected for improvement of services for the utmost benefit of customers.

Mr. Wanchai Priboonbaramee, Senior Operation Director of ManpowerGroup, stated that ManpowerGroup Thailand has continued expanding its service provision, innovative workforce solutions to be consistent with the market demand, which have been positively responded by entrepreneurs, business sector, industry sector and labor of all levels, ranging from large organizations to SMEs. Currently, major entrepreneurs account for 35 percent of the total ManpowerGroup's customers hiring our sales and customer service personnel service. The second group of or customers includes manufacturing and logistics industry which accounts for 25 percent, followed by SMEs accounting for 15 percent while another 15 percent are specialized workers. We also provide special service to the fields that require specialized workers in response to Thailand 4.0 policy, such as robotics experts who must be imported from overseas, and the remaining 10 percent represent other groups.

We implement 3 main strategies to accommodate the changes as follows: 1. Focusing on meeting customer demand; 2. Ensuring that our personnel are knowledgeable and creating innovative culture in the organization; 3. Developing technology for use in human resources processes to link with employees, customers and candidates for convenient and easy access.

"ManpowerGroup's services which have satisfied our customer needs in the past few years and received positive feedback are "Business Solutions" which become an effective tool for innovative labor management with an emphasis on customers' efficiency and effectiveness of business operations. ManpowerGroup has worked closely with customers in management of labor groups needed by customers.

We have implemented outcome-based approach and key performance indicators, which are our complete service allowing customers to manage their costs and reduce their labor management burden. Furthermore, we have exported labors to support customers' business expansion to invest in other countries, especially AEC. These are ManpowerGroup's strategic plans to accommodate the changing business trend in 4.0 era," said Mr. Wanchai.

Miss Suthida Kanjaanakantikul, Marketing Manager of ManpowerGroup, mentioned that according to the survey of the demand of labors, it was found that the current proportion of labor demand could be classified into the 10 groups as follows:

List of the first 10 fields needed by the market: 1. Sales and marketing 22.65 percent; 2. Accounting and finance 12.16 percent; 3. Engineering and manufacturing 8.62 percent; 4. IT 8.11 percent; 5. Administration 7.15 percent; 6. Customer service 6.39 percent; 7. Short-term jobs 6.28 percent; 8. Executive positions 5.63 percent; 9. Human resources management 5.02 percent; and 10. Logistics 3.04 percent.

List of the first 10 fields needed by labors: 1. Sales and marketing 22.57 percent; 2. Engineering 13.42 percent; 3. Administration 11.48 percent; 4. Human resources management 8.66 percent; 5. Accounting and finance 8.57 percent; 6. Customer service 8.26 percent; 7. Logistics 6.42 percent; 8. IT 4.73 percent; 9. Executive positions 4.18 percent; and 10. Manufacturing 4.14 percent.

Top 3 business groups having the highest demand of labors are service business, including transport and logistics, retail and wholesale, specific service and other consultation, followed by industrial product business, including automobile, industrial materials and machinery, petrochemicals and chemical supplies, and the third group is technological business, including information technology and communication, electronic parts.

"Although the overall labor market situation has been declining, the unemployment rate in 2019 reduced from 2018 by 0.04 percent. This is probably because of positive factors from the fact that Thailand has announced the national reform policy, namely Thailand 4.0, and entered into digital transformation. Therefore, public sector, business sector, labor market and education sector should be alerted and prepared themselves for the change. Collaboration of all related parties is essential for steering themselves, the organizations and the nation to cross over the change together. This could be a major challenge to be prepared for by all sectors," said Miss Suthida.

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