MAPPING OF CAREER GUIDANCE  
   SERVICES AND INTERVENTIONS FOR  
   ADOLESCENTS AND YOUTH IN THAILAND
       The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author 
       and of a multiplicity of actors interviewed for this research project, and do 
       not necessarily reflect the views of UNICEF. 
       Permission to copy, disseminate or otherwise use information from this 
       publication is granted so long as appropriate acknowledgement is given. 
       Disclaimer: The material in this report was commissioned by UNICEF 
       Thailand Country Office. UNICEF accepts no responsibility for errors. The 
       findings, interpretations and views expressed in this publication do not 
       necessarily reflect the views of UNICEF. 
       Suggested citation: UNICEF, Mapping of Career Guidance Services and 
       Interventions for Adolescents and Youth in Thailand. UNICEF, Bangkok, 2022 
       Front photo credit: UNICEF/Sukhum Preechapanich/2020 
       Design and layout: Tanat Supichayangkun
                   Acknowledgements 
                   The study Mapping of Career Guidance Services and Interventions for Adolescents and Youth in Thailand 
                   was commissioned by the Young People’s Section of UNICEF Thailand.
                   The report was written by Patporn Phoothong and edited by Laura Evans. Vilasa Phongsathorn and Ilaria Favero 
                   coordinated and provided overall technical guidance to the development of this research project. 
                   Special thanks go to every adolescent and youth, policy maker, and service provider who generously shared 
                   their views, opinions and voices, thus contributing to the richness of the findings. It is hoped that these voices 
                   will be heard and will inform the design of effective career guidance services and interventions for all adolescents 
                   and youth in Thailand.
                                                                                       Mapping of Career Guidance Services and Interventions for Adolescents and Youth in Thailand       1
             Executive Summary 
             Young people in Thailand are facing critical issues that increase their vulnerability, decrease their resilience, and 
             limit the realization of their rights. In Thailand, youth transition to decent work remains problematic, with nearly 
             15 per cent of Thai adolescents and youth aged 15-24 not in education, employment, or training (NEET).1 NEETs 
             are at higher risk of being socially and economically excluded and are more likely to become vulnerable in the 
             long term.
             Career development support can play a fundamental role in enhancing individuals’ skills in managing learning, 
             work, leisure, as well as transitions over a lifetime (ILO and ETF, 2021). 
             Specifically, career guidance, counselling and information can help achieve:
                 1.  Lifelong learning goals: Combating early school leaving and ensuring an adequate knowledge and skills 
                     base to meet the challenges in creating knowledge-based societies in the context of economic globalization, 
                     and promoting adequate linkages between education, training and the world of work.
                 2.  Labour market outcomes: Reducing mismatches between supply and demand for labour, dealing with 
                     unemployment and improving labour mobility.
                 3.  Social equity and social inclusion goals: Promoting reintegration of marginalized and at-risk groups into 
                     education, training and employment and mainstreaming of excluded groups into general training 
                     programmes and labour market services (Hansen, 2006).
             Given Thailand’s human capital development ambitions, career development support is key to the implementation 
             of lifelong learning, active labour market policies and instrumental to successfully achieve social and economic 
             targets. 
             In Thailand, career guidance for adolescents and youth is considered a key element for future labour force 
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             preparation and the country’s economic growth, as stated in the draft 13  National Economic and Social 
             Development Plan (2023-2027) and the Thai Labour Action Plan (2020-2022). It is associated with the promotion 
             of employment, and the preparation and development of workers to be productive and equipped with skills, 
             competencies and characteristics aligned with labour market demands. The provision of career guidance is meant 
             to address labour shortages caused by: 1) a shortage of skills and knowledge that match the needs of the labour 
             market; 2) an ageing society; and 3) a lack of labour force preparation at all ages and education levels (Department 
             of Employment, 2016b). 
             To ensure the development of evidence-based career guidance support interventions in the country, it is critical 
             to understand what existing career guidance services are available to adolescents and youth in Thailand, as well 
             as identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities, to gain insights into how career guidance can be delivered more 
             effectively in the country.
             The study Mapping of Career Guidance Services and Interventions for Adolescents and Youth in Thailand aims 
             to provide a landscape analysis of career guidance services and interventions currently operating in Thailand and 
             recommendations for UNICEF and its partners to support the improvement and promotion of career guidance 
             services in the country. 
             1   Over 1.4 million young people aged 15-24 in Thailand are NEET (ILO, 2020), 70 per cent of whom are females (TDRI, 2020).
          2    Mapping of Career Guidance Services and Interventions for Adolescents and Youth in Thailand