Abstract
While several developing countries worldwide are currently facing a youth bulge, Thailand is facing an opposite situation. That is, the proportion of its youth population is expected to decline below 15 percent of the total population in 2013 and to constantly diminish thereafter, implying a youth deficit from this year on. The shrinking youth population will unavoidably cause a smaller workforce of the nation in 2018. Other things being equal, Thailand may lose its competitive advantage, causing GDP per capita to grow more slowly and the standards of living of Thai people to gradually decrease. To prevent such undesirable situations, youth empowerment is needed so that they will become the productive human resources of Thailand in an ageing society. This article presents the situation regarding youth population in Thailand and summarizes Thailand’s opportunities and challenges for youth empowerment. It also proposes public policy recommendations for youth empowerment.
Key words: Youth Population, Empowerment, Youth Deficit, Thailand