Competitive remuneration, career advancement opportunities, and great colleagues are the three driving factors for job seekers in Thailand.

In particular, a majority of candidates analyzed in RGF International Recruitment’s Talent in Asia report rated fair and market-competitive compensation as the most important factor (64 percent), followed by career advancement opportunities (16 percent) and finally, top-caliber colleagues (10 percent).

Additionally, about eight in 10 (84 percent) expect to receive a pay rise when switching jobs, with an average of 20 percent pay rise being most commonly expected.

Given the growth of mobile data consumption and digitization in Thailand, new paths for e-commerce ventures, demands for roles in the Consumer & Retail industry have increased and hence, making it the most desirable industry among Thai job candidates.

This was followed by Healthcare & Life sciences in second place, and Technology, Internet & Telecommunications in third; professional services in fourth, and finally, industrial as the fifth most desirable industry to Thai talent.

On the employer’s end, despite the Thai economy slowing down, a majority of employers (68 percent) are optimistic about the growth of Thailand’s labor force. In line with this finding, 64 percent of employers have plans to expand their teams this year, while 27 percent had no hiring plans yet. At the same time, a minority (9 percent) indicated that were downsizing.

Further, employers in Thailand are seeking candidates who have a strong sense of accountability, have confidence in their experience, and who are able to be agile and flexible when faced with change.

In order to attract such talent and more, these employers are working on strengthening their employer branding (46 percent), employee training and development (19 percent), and finding ways to provide flexible work solutions to improve employees’ work-life balance (13 percent).