IT skills are a must for Thai workforce

Thai workers are not only competing amongst themselves but also with expats from other regions. The new challenge is to boost the competitiveness of the entire nation. The government is urged to focus more on enhancing national competitiveness in the long-term by investing in national infrastructure and preparing the country for the upcoming Asean Economic Community, which will come into effect in 2015, further intensifying the business environment and competition.

 

Today’s workers are likened to skilled technicians and must stay up-to-date with new technology in order to stay ahead of the competition. If workers are to receive the respect and recognition they desire, they must accept that IT skills have become a minimum requirement in today’s workforce. However, some factors such as high costs may stand in the way and prevent certain people from receiving what has become mandatory education. Fortunately, Microsoft’s BETTER programme is a “free ride” that can empower and prepare the Thai workforce for free labour mobility. The empowering programme is also part of Microsoft Thailand’s vision “We Make 70 Million Lives Better”.

 

For the third consecutive year the BETTER programme has helped to develop the IT skills of the Thai workforce by offering free IT training. The project is also introducing a new online Smart Entrepreneur course, which is aligned with Thailand’s efforts in preparing for labour mobility of professional service providers and skilled labour within Asean by 2015. As people are realising the benefits they can receive from the BETTER programme, participants have increased by 76.17 per cent from the previous year. Currently, there are 24,700 people in the programme with expectations of that number reaching 40,000. More than 40 per cent of people joining the programme indicated in a survey that the IT knowledge they have learned from the programme helps enhance their IT skills and techniques and improves their abilities at their current jobs. Meanwhile, 28.57 per cent gained confidence and expertise in using IT. More than 6 per cent saw advancements in their careers after joining the programme.

 

The country’s gross domestic product is expected to grow at 4.5 per cent, and that would mean the continuous need for a skilled workforce.  Meanwhile, Thailand’s labour productivity is increasing by only 3 per cent per year. This reflects a workforce trend. Workers should grow to their full potential to bolster their chances of gaining better job opportunities, which in turn will help strengthen the country’s competitiveness. At Microsoft Thailand, we believe that greater access to technology and the sharing of IT skills can really transform lives, so we have been focusing a lot of our attention on this through our ongoing Microsoft Unlimited Potential initiative, with the establishment of the BETTER project. 

 

Birathon Kasemsri na Ayudhaya is managing director of Microsoft (Thailand).