Thailand’s recruitment market faces significant challenges in 2026, with over 67% of organizations citing a lack of skilled and experienced candidates as the primary hiring obstacle. Despite this skills gap, the job market remains highly competitive, driven by one of the world’s lowest unemployment rates and a strong confidence in job prospects, with 71% of professionals actively seeking new opportunities.
According to a market overview by Robert Walters Thailand, while the majority of businesses (97%) plan salary increases—aligning with the expectations of 93% of professionals—employers are becoming more selective, leading to prolonged recruitment processes. This environment is driving two major trends: a focus on Skills-Based Hiring and Reskilling, and a strong prioritization of Senior-Level Leadership Hires.
Key Hiring Challenges and Talent Priorities
Employer Landscape:
- Hiring Outlook: Over 33% of companies plan to increase hiring by 5-10% in 2026, while 40% will maintain current levels.
- Top Challenge: 67% cite a lack of skilled, experienced candidates.
- Valued Soft Skills: Employers prioritize problem-solving and critical thinking (58%), interpersonal and collaboration skills (57%), and emotional intelligence, empathy (52%).
Talent Priorities:
- Top Concern: Around 60% of professionals are concerned about keeping up with AI skills due to a lack of training.
- Job Seeking Hurdle: Over 60% cite unmet salary and benefit expectations as the top challenge in finding the right job.
- Retention Factors: Professionals prioritize competitive pay (60%), flexible work conditions (44%), and job security (37%).
Skills-Based Hiring and Reskilling as Game-Changers
The 2026 talent recruitment landscape in Thailand is shifting dramatically towards skills-based hiring, where employers prioritize specialized skill sets that align closely with job requirements over traditional academic qualifications.
Punyanuch Sirisawadwattana, Country Manager at Robert Walters Thailand, noted that this shift reflects the demand for professionals who can deliver immediate value. “Job movers with in-demand, ‘plug-and-play’ skill sets are expected to command salary increases of 15–20%, reflecting the premium placed on immediately deployable expertise,” she added.
Reskilling is becoming critical for both employers and employees. With 60% of employees valuing on-the-job training, investing in reskilling initiatives not only addresses the talent shortage but also builds a more agile workforce capable of navigating economic uncertainties, which are currently being impacted by political instability and a strong Thai baht affecting exports and tourism.
Leadership Roles Take Center Stage
Amidst unpredictable market conditions, many businesses are prioritizing senior-level candidates over mid-level hires. This high demand for C-suite talent and experienced leaders is necessary to drive transformation, reset strategies, and ensure organizational resilience.
Natiya Saul, Director at Robert Walters, emphasized: “Leadership hires in Thailand in 2026 are critical. Companies need leaders who can steer a workforce and inspire sustainable growth, which unlocks business goals.”
However, leadership recruitment faces its own hurdles, including a lack of suitable candidates, high salary expectations (53%), and competition fueled by counteroffers. To secure top leaders, organizations are placing greater emphasis on crucial soft skills, alongside strategic experience.
AI’s Role and Future Skills
AI is officially transforming recruitment in Thailand, with large firms using it to automate tasks like job postings and interview scheduling. Within the workforce, over 37% of employers have adopted AI to optimize headcount, with administration, accounting, and finance roles being most at risk.
Employers identify data analysis (72%), critical thinking (52%), and adaptability (34%) as the most critical skills for an AI-driven workforce. Significantly, more than half of employers expect that 25–50% of their employees will need reskilling or upskilling within five years due to AI advancements.
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