Thailand, 10 March 2025 – Insights from the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide reveal that over seven in ten organisations in Thailand experienced ‘moderate to extreme’ skill shortages, the highest percentage among six locations surveyed in Asia which include Thailand, China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. 

The survey conducted by Hays across six weeks in late 2024 gathered insights from 3,670 hiring managers regarding skill shortages they faced within their organisations. Respondents were also queried about reasons related to skill shortages, positions that were difficult to fill and anticipated changes in headcount in 2025. 

In Asia: Skill shortages due to high competition from other employers

62 per cent of hiring managers in Asia admitted to encountering ‘moderate to extreme’ skill shortages in 2024, with an additional 26 per cent facing minor skill shortages. When asked about the main causes of these shortages, 47 per cent attributed it to ‘competition from other employers’. Additionally, 33 per cent considered ‘pay levels’ to be the main contributing factor, while 27 per cent cited a ‘lack of progression opportunities’. 

When examining the types of positions organisations were struggling to fill, intermediate-level roles were particularly challenging (55 per cent), followed by management positions (37 per cent), entry/junior-level roles (20 per cent), C-Suite positions (13 per cent), and director roles (12 per cent). In response to these findings, 33 per cent of hiring managers indicated that ‘employee retention’ was a key HR investment focus for 2024 and 2025, while 27 per cent were focused on ‘employee recruitment’. 

Thailand: Increased hiring to fill gaps

Hiring managers in Thailand faced the highest levels of such talent deficits in Asia, tied with Japan at 71 per cent and ahead of Malaysia (64 per cent) and China (60 per cent). Additionally, 42 per cent of organisations cited 'competition from other employers' as a key contributor to skill shortages. 

"Our survey revealed that 44 per cent of participating organisations in Thailand have already projected their workforce expansion plans for 2025," said Yoke Pei Ong, Regional Director at Hays Thailand. "23 per cent of these organisations expect a five to ten percent increase in headcount within the year, while 15 per cent anticipate growth exceeding ten per cent." 

An additional seven per cent of hiring managers anticipate an unspecified increase in headcount this year. Alongside hiring intentions, 32 per cent of organisations are also prioritising employee retention to secure essential talent within their companies. 

"Management level and intermediate level roles are the most challenging to fill, with 52 per cent and 51 per cent of hiring managers in Thailand reporting difficulties in this area respectively," said Yoke Pei. 

Learning and communication skills in high demand

When asked which soft skills were most in demand by organisations in Thailand, the ‘ability to learn and upskill’ and ‘communication and interpersonal skills’ tied for top place at 43 per cent. This was followed by ‘ability to adopt and change’ (29 per cent) and ‘people management’ skills (29 per cent). 

"Organisations are continuously competing to recruit individuals who can adapt quickly and manage change effectively, as these skills are essential for driving business success in a rapidly evolving environment. These findings, among many others, highlight the critical need for continuous learning and clear communication in the modern workplace to mitigate these challenges," said Yoke Pei. 

A copy of the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide is available here.

For more information contact:

Sonel Singh, Head of Marketing, Hays Southeast Asia
T: +60 3 7890 6351
E: sonel.singh@hays.com.my