BANGKOK,THAILAND - MediaOutReach - 16 February 2021 - Professional recruitment services Michael Page Thailand launched the Talent Trends 2021 Report, with a keen eye on the Thai job market. While hiring activitiesdipped 37% in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, optimism is starting to show, with 33% of companies in Thailand lookingto increase their headcounts and 32% maintaining status quo in 2021.

Kristoffer Paludan, Regional Director ofMichael Page Thailand

Kristoffer Paludan, Regional Director of MichaelPage Thailand says, "Like othermarkets in the region, Thailand's technology sector stayed afloat andresilient, particularly for e-commerce and other internet-based businesses.Food production, too, proved to be a bright spot, which in turn carried otherassociated industries, such as chemical, agriculture, as well as agritech."

Inview of the economic demands, the sectors earmarked for highest hiring activityare industrial/manufacturing, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), technology& telecommunications, healthcare/pharmaceutical as well as retail.

According to the report, the COVID-19pandemic also served to hasten the adoption of digitisation. Over the course ofthe year, companies in Thailand have adapted to digitisation demands withinimpressively short timeframes. Technologies like virtualisation and cloudaccess have allowed many businesses to get as close to 'business as usual' aspossible.

According to the report, 67% of employedtechnology professionals in Thailand anticipate looking for new opportunitiesin 2021 while another31% is passively open to new ones, suggesting increased employment activity. Consideringthe competition for high-potential tech professionals, Kristoffer Paludan advises, "Candidates move jobs primarily dueto the dynamic nature of the business, which is constantly adapting to changingmarket demands and practises. These are agile organisations that provide asteep learning curve and the opportunity for regional mandates in themedium-to-long term."

Asa viable option to bridge skill gaps arising from their move to businessrecovery in 2021, 42% of companies in Thailand cited their continued investment in employees byproviding training to upskill the workforce while 46% turned to the useof automation for basic processes.

Thaiprofessionals have also been empowered with the wealth of information availableto them when considering a new job offer. 40% of the study's respondentsclaimed they did extensive research on the company before applying for a job.