Unemployment rate (annual) in Thailand

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 1.0% 2027: 1.0% 2028: 1.0% 2029: 1.0% 2030: 1.0% 2031: 1.0%

4.2% (1999) ANUAL · % · Annual · CSV

Period	%
Jan 1999	4.2%
Jan 1998	4.4%
Jan 1997	1.5%
Jan 1996	1.5%
Jan 1995	1.7%
Jan 1994	2.6%
Jan 1993	2.6%
Jan 1992	2.8%
Jan 1991	3.1%
Jan 1990	2.2%

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually, covering the full year and subject to revision.

What it is

Measures the share of Thailand's labour force that is jobless and actively seeking work. Published by the National Statistical Office (NSO), it is the benchmark indicator of the Thai labour market.

How it's calculated

Calculated as the unemployed as a percentage of the labour force, following the ILO definition, from the household labour force survey. The annual figure averages the periodic rounds.

Market implications

Thailand persistently posts one of the world's lowest jobless rates, propped up by agriculture and informal work, so the figure barely moves the Bank of Thailand. Its trend matters more as context for consumption than as a direct signal for rates or the baht.

Limitations

The extraordinarily low rate reflects absorption by the informal and farm sectors rather than genuine strength, and masks heavy underemployment. Annual survey data carry sampling error and do not capture job quality.