Ask any local working class Thai how things are going and you will hear a lot of anxiety.
The voices of low-income workers whose lives rely on daily wages paints a picture of a country currently faced with challenges both from outside and within.
Global trade and geopolitical tensions will harshly affect Thailand’s exports, and thus employment and supply chains, this year, said a tripartite group made up of the Thai Bankers Association, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce in their economic prediction for the latter half of 2025 issued this month.
They predicted the economy will grow by less than 2% this year after being hit by US tariffs.
Lower Chinese tourist arrivals will also slow down the entire tourism industry this year. Political instability can also affect the 2026 fiscal budget, said the report.
Motorcycle Taxi Driver – “Before Covid-19, I could make more than 500 baht everyday, even a thousand on a good day. Now? Maybe a few hundred on a good day,” he said.
Street food vendor Suwanna Mekprasert, 56 – “Pork is too expensive now. Sometimes I use a lesser amount of meat, but customers notice,” she says with a nervous laugh. “I don’t want to cheat them, but I have bills and my grandson’s tuition to pay.”
38-year-old clothes vendor Mr. A – “Tourism helps a little, but local people don’t shop much. Everyone’s saving money.” Competition from online stores and increasing stall rental fees are eating into what little profit he makes, he said. The country’s leadership doesn’t give him much hope either.
29-year-old office worker Thida Suwannasri – Types endlessly at her desk, already worried about next month’s rent. “My salary has barely gone up in two years. But rent, food and everything else have,” she says. “It’s exhausting just trying to survive.” She said she barely felt like a young professional trying to build a stable life.
51-year-old Chatchai Boonrawd – Inside a small electronics repair shop, 51-year-old Chatchai Boonrawd scrolls through messages as he waits for walk-in customers.
“Sales are slow. Everyone’s trying to fix old phones instead of buying new ones,” he said.
His dream of launching a small online store was shelved due to high shipping fees and steep digital platform cuts.
“Support small businesses. Not just big malls and chains. Not to mention big people with big names. That’s how you build the country,” he said.
Economic opportunities and social mobility are no longer a thing in Thailand, Mr Chatchai said.
“I am half a hundred years old and the only thing I see so far is rich people getting much richer while poor people are dying to scrape by,” he added.
Source: Bangkok Post