“Nursing and dentistry will be the most worrying careers, as they will be challenged by inbound professionals from the Philippines and Europe respectively,” Aat said.
He said that according to the survey, only 20 per cent of nurses had a good understanding of the AEC and recognised its benefits. They also had little interest in working abroad, particularly in Asean countries. About 80 per cent of accountants had a good understanding of the AEC, but only half of them saw any real benefit in it.
Only 30 per cent of engineers understood the AEC well, and only 10 per cent saw it as beneficial. Thai engineers work to comparable standards to Singapore and the Philippines, but they have a disadvantage in terms of English-language ability.
Half of Thai architects still lack a good understanding of the AEC and recognise its benefits. However, they see it as a good opportunity to work abroad, especially in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Aat said the government should educate skilled labourers and professionals on the benefits and opportunities of the AEC before it kicks in.
Logistics sector needs to be prepared for emergencies
Thailand’s logistics services may need to revise their procedures in terms of precise warning systems and physical development to reduce the possibility of supply-chain disruptions during a crisis such as last year’s flood disaster.
Meanwhile, a number of manufacturers are looking for alternative suppliers outside Thailand in order to diversify their risks, as they face the additional factor of needing