The global semiconductor value chain is undergoing a profound structural realignment driven by geopolitical imperatives, regional diversification, and the exponential rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced microelectronics. Thailand, historically anchored as a regional hub for back-end Assembly, Testing, and Packaging (ATP), has articulated an audacious national ambition: the “Made-in- Thailand Chips” roadmap. This strategic framework targets the comprehensive positioning of the Kingdom as a global manufacturing and design hub for high-end, high- value semiconductors by 2050, aiming to mobilize over 2.5 trillion baht in fixed capital investment and cultivate a specialized workforce exceeding 230,000 highly skilled personnel.

To move up the global value chain into front-end fabrication, advanced packaging, and chip design, Thailand must transition from a reactive workforce model to a proactive, industry-led talent ecosystem.

Currently, Thailand’s electrical and electronics (E&E) sector employs between 750,000 and 800,000 workers, with approximately 55% dedicated to the electronics sub-sector. However, out of this vast workforce, only 50,000 to 60,000 individuals function as high-skilled engineers and specialized technicians in advanced electronics, such as integrated circuits (ICs), high-density interconnect PCBs, and wafer processing. Furthermore, within the burgeoning Printed Circuit Board (PCB) supply chain, high-skilled foreign experts comprise 12% of the workforce, underscoring a persistent structural reliance on external technical talent. To move up the global value chain into front-end fabrication, advanced packaging, and chip design, Thailand must transition from a reactive workforce model to a proactive, industry-led talent ecosystem. 2 To move up the global value chain into front-end fabrication, advanced packaging, and chip design, Thailand must transition from a reactive workforce model to a proactive, industry-led talent ecosystem. Capital incentives alone are no longer sufficient; talent availability has become the primary driver for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This paper provides a strategic framework to bridge Thailand’s acute talent shortage through a centralized governance model, dedicated competency frameworks, and an actionable roadmap leading up to 2030.