TDRI เตือน 3 วิกฤตบั่นทอนชีวิตคนไทย งานหด รายได้เหลื่อมล้ำ รัฐไม่น่าพึ่งTDRI Warns of 3 Crises Undermining Thai Lives: Job Loss, Income Inequality, and Dependence on Ineffective Government

TDRI Warns of 3 Crises Undermining Thai Lives: Job Loss, Income Inequality, and Dependence on Ineffective Government. TDRI identifies 3 factors undermining the stability of Thai lives: the decline in quality jobs, widening inequality, and ineffective government. It warns that economic growth is insufficient if the majority of people remain without life assurances. KEY POINTS - Job insecurity: Traditional industries are losing their competitiveness, while technology and AI are replacing labor, making it difficult for individuals to find quality jobs, and income growth is lagging behind the cost of living.

Despite the Thai economy still expanding and foreign investment remaining at a high level, this reflects the gap between economic growth and the stability of people's lives. Dr. Wiratai Santiprapab, Chairperson of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), delivered a special keynote at the TDRI annual seminar on the theme “(In)security of Thais in an Uncertain World” on October 22, 2026, emphasizing that geopolitical changes, artificial intelligence, climate volatility, and the transition to an aging society are all increasing pressure on the stability of Thai lives.

The three main factors causing Thais to feel insecure about their lives, as stated by Dr. Wiratai, are first, job insecurity, as industries that previously provided significant employment are losing competitiveness, while the business sector increasingly employs robots, digital technologies, and AI as replacements for human labor, resulting in individuals struggling to find quality work.

Income growth is not keeping pace with rising living costs, and there is insufficient savings for retirement. Meanwhile, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a crucial source of employment, are facing competition from large capital investments and cheap imported goods. The second factor is inequality and K-shaped economic growth, which is leading to greater disparities in income, wealth, and opportunities among different groups. The public education system has been unable to function effectively as a ladder for the majority of citizens to elevate their quality of life.

At the same time, issues of household debt and insufficient retirement savings make it difficult for vulnerable citizens to cope with floods, disasters, and rising living costs. The third factor is the lack of government support, as the performance of government agencies does not keep pace with changes, policies do not address new problems, and there are issues of corruption. Furthermore, a lack of fiscal discipline may also limit the government's ability to care for citizens and increases the risk of future economic crises.

Proposing 3 Solutions for Long-Term Stability to Address Problems Sustainably. Dr. Wiratai suggested that the government and all sectors should accelerate action in three areas: creating quality jobs for the majority by enhancing the competitiveness of businesses that provide significant employment; developing digital infrastructure to support SMEs; and upgrading workforce skills to align with market demands through upskilling and reskilling.

The second area is to reduce inequality, particularly regarding opportunities, through educational reform, increasing agricultural productivity, fostering fair business competition, and adjusting social welfare systems to effectively assist vulnerable populations—with the quality of life of citizens as the primary goal of national development. The third area is to genuinely reform the government by combating corruption at all levels, updating outdated laws to reduce costs for citizens and businesses, increasing the efficiency of government agencies, reducing siloed operations, and maintaining fiscal discipline to prevent economic risks.

Dr. Wiratai concluded that creating security in life for Thais requires the right mindset and prioritization, emphasizing long-term outcomes over short-term fixes, so that citizens may have hope, assurance in their lives, and the ability to cope with the uncertainties of the world sustainably.