Industry faces lack of skilled workers

THOUGH the national vocational skills competition demonstrated a significant development in student competencies, the number of vocational and technical students still lags far behind the market demand in the most-wanted fields.

Narong Kasatepibal, Association of Future Thai Professional’s board chairman acknowledged that as the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (Ovec) is pushing measures to enhance vocational education standards, the increase in manpower production remains a big problem. 

Industries currently face a severe shortage of skilled workers in various fields, notably welding engineering, mechanical power technology, machine tools technology, and construction technology.

Narong noted very low enrolments in colleges, despite huge demand for skilled welders with great pay, due to the skill being less attractive for students. There is total demand for over 300,000 welders nationwide to work in various industries, including petrochemical, fuel exploration and production and construction. While, there is a supply of only 20,000 welders a year.

He said the private companies offer a high salary of at least Bt30,000 for qualified welder as some positions can earn income per hour.

Paitoon Soison, director of Nong Khai College of Boatbuilding Industry and Technology, added that the college has only 8 students studying on a vocational certificate in welding engineering. Most are not interested in this field because of concern on hard learning and safety. 

“Colleges must make a more aggressive campaign to change the perceptions of students and their parents, enabling them to better know and understand the needs of labour markets and great benefits. However, the welding engineering programme requires students to be patient and enthusiastic because they have to practise in a workshop with safety clothes and tools, not air-conditioned rooms,” Paitoon said.

Similarly, students were not interested in construction technology. Over 100,000 skilled construction workers were needed, but colleges could only produce 10,000 students a year, Narong said.

Chanvech Boonpraderm, Ovec’s deputy secretary-general said huge infrastructure development and the growing property market have caused a critical shortage of construction skilled workers especially foremen. Even the Home Builders Association has collaborated with the colleges to produce workers for the housing market. 

Meanwhile, Siam City Cement (SCCC) has worked with Ovec for many years to enhance construction skills of vocational students. SCCC supported the national vocational skills competition under the theme “INSEE Green Contest”, by offering environmentally friendly materials, financial support and cash prizes.

Nattawut Trachoo, SCCC’s media and external relations manager, said that this year contest was a podium construction, allowing students to learn green materials and how to choose the right products for the perfect piece of work. The podiums will be donated to needy schools. 

Among 15 teams from five regions, Chumphon Technical College won the first prize, followed by Kanchanaburi Technical College and Suphan Buri Technical College. Notably, the students developed team work, skills, systematic management and how to work faster.

Moreover, SCCC is considering a policy that offers winning students an opportunity to work for the company when they complete their study.

This year, the national vocational skills competition for academic year 2014 was organised at Nong Khai Technical College, Nong Khai Vocational College, and Nong Khai College of Boatbuilding Industry and Technology. 

This activity covered 49 subjects in the field of vocational skills and 22 subjects in basic education. The competition is aimed at encouraging technical and vocational students to develop skills, to lift the country’s competitiveness.

Previously, the prime minister called on all relevant agencies to work out a master plan to prepare Thai workers over the next five to 10 years, in line with the National Economic and Social Development Plan. 

Due to the shortage of a large number of skilled workers, the PM asked the Office of the Vocational Education Commission to conduct a survey to find out the number of skilled workers in each field. 

The ratio of vocational students to basic education students is now 35:65. The state has a policy to bring up the ratio of vocational students to at least half.