Thailand Launches Job Fair for People with Disabilities
Thailand is launching a major job fair and market initiative to support people with disabilities in employment and entrepreneurship, with over 800,000 working-age disabled individuals but only 25 percent currently employed.
On August 19, 2025, Deputy Minister Chanok Chantathong chaired the press conference for the Job and Market Fair, a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, working through the Department for Promotion and Development of Quality of Life for Persons with Disabilities, alongside associations representing all categories of persons with disabilities in Thailand and partner networks from all sectors. The event operates under the concept 'Creative Skills, Unlimited Opportunities' to advance the quality of life for people with disabilities by shifting from a welfare state model to a supportive state model, creating a society of equal opportunity where all can access education, skill development, employment, and income generation on equal terms.
The event was attended by Department Director Sandhya Bunyabhusit and other Ministry officials, network representatives, disability organization leaders, and networks of persons with disabilities at Star Hall, Level 5, Siam Paragon shopping center.
Chantathong noted that Thailand currently has more than 2.3 million registered persons with disabilities (as of July 31, 2025) and over 800,000 of working age, yet only approximately 25 percent are employed. This reflects a large pool of untapped potential, as many persons with disabilities lack adequate access to job opportunities, financing, vocational skill development, and marketing channels.
'The nation's key challenge is not simply how to care for persons with disabilities, but how to ensure they have equal access to jobs, careers, and the labor market, because employment means income, security, dignity, and the ability to determine one's own future. When persons with disabilities become self-reliant and participate in the economic system, it is not merely a success for disability policy but a vital force for driving the country forward. This requires moving from fragmented opportunity creation to a connected system spanning vocational skill development, job matching, support for self-employment, product development, and market access, particularly through partnerships with employers to make Sections 33 and 35 of the disability employment law yield concrete results.
We want the private sector to move beyond legal compliance in hiring persons with disabilities and recognize the value of investing in their potential and the diversity of human resources. Meanwhile, technology and digital platforms will be crucial tools in removing distance barriers and enabling persons with disabilities to reach customers, generate income, and advance in their careers from anywhere in the country,' Chantathong said.
