Employment in Thailand, 2019‑2024: Crisis, Recovery and Informality

By Sasiwimon Warunsiri Paweenawat, Jessica Vechbanyongratana on March 20, 2026

• In 2024, the majority of employment in Thailand was informal (65%). By contrast, in Bangkok the majority was formal (56%).
• Nationally, the rate of informal employment of the five worker groups discussed in this brief – domestic workers, home-based workers, market traders, motorcycle drivers and street vendors – was much higher than the national average for all workers (82%-100% in comparison to 65%).
• The vast majority of workers in the five occupational groups worked 40 to 48 hours per week and a substantial share worked even more.
• Home-based workers as well as market traders and street vendors selling food had higher hourly earnings than the average for all employed in each of the geographic areas (nationally, in Thailand’s urban areas and in Bangkok). The earnings of domestic workers and motorcycle drivers were lower than the average.
• Trade and services comprised the vast majority (81%) of informal employment in Bangkok in 2024, while nationally agriculture, forestry and fishing at 47% was the largest sector.
• Restrictions on movement and other COVID-19 containment measures led to a drop in employment in Bangkok and in Thailand’s urban areas between 2019 and 2021; however, in both geographic areas, women’s employment increased while men’s decreased.

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