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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Occupations, Income and Migration of the Rural Lower Secondary School Graduates in the Educational Region V

(Thailand), Doctor of Philosophy (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Abstract:

 

The main objective of the study was to find out the factors associated with the occupation, income and migration pattern of the rural lower secondary school graduates in Thailand. The respondents were 498 (291 male and 207 female) graduates of Maw Saw 3 (Grade 10) from 29 schools in six provinces of Educational Region V, for school years 1971 to 1975. Data were collected with the use of an interview schedule. The chi-square test was employed in analyzing relationships between variables.

Findings revealed that the respondents had an average age 19.9 years, and most of them were single, residing with their parents, living and working in the rural areas, and belonging to the low socio-economic families of nonfarming folk.

The majority of the 63% who were employed were in nonfarm occupations, predominantly in sales business, while those in farming were engaged in upland crop production. Most of the employed respondents expressed satisfaction with their work conditions, although some aspired for better jobs, especially government employment. They considered the vocational subjects and training they had taken as relevant to their current occupations. Forty-four percent desired to study further, especially in vocational schools, in order to acquire a better occupations and higher income. Courses desired most by those who wanted additional occupational training were auto mechanics, agriculture, accounting or sales or business management, and dressmaking or sewing.

Annual income of the rural lower secondary school graduates ranged from less than 10,000 to more than 40,000 bahts, with an average of around 14,000 bahts. About 50% had income lower than 20,000 bahts. Although a big majority claimed their income was sufficient, they still aspired to equal their spouses’ earnings.

Only 19% of the respondents had moved out of their hometown. Two main reasons for migrating were to follow their parents and to live near their place to work. Those who stayed had a low migrating propensity. Only 18% felt inclined to migrate to seek better jobs.

Statistical analysis showed that (a) employment status was related o age, marital status, residence with parents, race of parents, length of time out of school, occupational subjects taken up and previous occupational training; (b) the kind of occupation the graduates were engaged in was related to sex, residence with parents, fathers’ educational attainment, parents’ occupation, parents’ income and length of time out of school; (c) income was associated with sex, age, marital status, residence with parents, mothers’ educational attainment, parents’ income and length of time out school; (d) migration pattern was related to marital status, residence with parents, mothers’ occupation, kind of occupation and income; (e) income aspiration was associated with current income; and (f) migration propensity was correlated with current occupation, income and migration pattern.