The unemployment rate in Thailand stood at 2.25% in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 0.35% compared to 1.90% in the same period last year, according to data from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council.

The number of unemployed persons stood at 871,000, up from 738,000 the year prior and the highest since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

The Council said Covid-19 strict measures to control the spread of Covid-19 had a significant impact on the labour market in the third quarter of 2021.

According to Reuters, the unemployment rate reached a 16-year high in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the Council’s data showed that the unemployment rate for workers aged 15-19 was 9.74%, followed by those aged 20-24 at 8.35%. It reflected the impact of Covid-19, which caused employers who had postponed some layoffs to eventually lay off employees

In the third quarter of 2021, there were 37.7 million employed persons, a 0.6% decrease from the same period last year.

The agricultural sector's employment has increased, with 12.68 million people employed, a 1.0% increase due to the start of the rice planting season. Non-agricultural employment fell by 1.3%, with the construction sector losing the most jobs, followed by the hotel/restaurant sector, which fell by 7.3% and 9.3%, respectively, as a result of measures to control the opening and closing of enterprises, as well as the closure of the worker's camp and limited food sales.

Earlier this month reopened to vaccinated foreign visitors without quarantine requirements, in a bid to restart its important tourism sector.

Danucha Pichayanan, head of the National Economic and Social Development Council said the easing of curbs and the reopening should increase employment in tourism, but the country will need more measures to help businesses with jobs.