Survey: Thai staff crave development

Stephen Bell, managing director of iHR Australia, said paying a competitive salary is only one consideration. To attract and retain talent, employers should also consider other important factors, he said.

The 2009 Asia Business Leadership survey, conducted from June to August last year, had 230 respondents from 10 organisations in Thailand including educational institutions and manufacturing, services and technology companies.

The research was aimed at finding out what satisfies professional people in Thailand in terms of leadership, the climate in which they work and how well they feel their employers match their values. The study analysed three age groups: those aged 30 or less, 31 to 45 and 45 and over.

For employees aged over-30, career advancement and promotion are less of a priority, while professional development tends to have greater importance.

Those over 45 were keener on training and skill development than other groups. Older workers were dissatisfied with the amount of training they received.