Modern Occupational Groups
The world’s characteristics in terms of monetary systems, technologies, nature, environment, behaviors of consumers, centralization of economical systems are all in rapid change. The most important thing is probably the change of the population structure in society. Therefore, all current occupations need to be developed in procedures and efficiency of their performance in order to be able to compete with others. All occupations depending on the main regions of the world must learn about their potential which means Asia, America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. But we have to learn about our potential as well in order to understand the potentialities of Thailand such as natural resources, arts, cultures, traditions, life styles and human resources.
So new occupational groups are divided into 5 groups in order to be related to the main potential and to be able to compete worldwide. Those are modern farming, modern business and marketing, modern industry, modern economy, and modern management and service.
1. Modern Farming: is the development in plantations, animal husbandry, and fisheries by applying new technologies and innovations to conform with the main potential of each area which are natural resources, climate, topography and the location, arts, cultures, traditions, and life styles of its population in each area. Modern farming should include organic farming, integrated farming, new theory farming, agro-forestry, industrial farming, etc.
2. Modern Commerce: is the development or expanding the occupation in the area of commerce such as the service provider sells products both retail and wholesale to the consumers. There are also storefronts such as shops, shopping centers, super stores, convenience stores and sales without a storefront such as selling through systems of social media network.
3. Modern Industry: is the development in skillful occupations using new technologies/ innovations such as electricians, carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, bricklayers, and welders.
4. Modern Creative Occupation: is the development which is related to the rapid development of communication technologies and logistics systems. The consumers will have more opportunities to select from a variety of products in quality and price. Therefore, there is increased competition in terms of production in many countries. Some developed countries have to change their production and service policies in terms of price and creative products. More creative thinking can save more energy while using fewer resources. Under the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2013-2016), the government establish the economic strategies to develop and increase quality and sustainability.
5. Modern Occupations in Administration and Management: are those in the tourism, logistic services, cinemas, conference and exhibitions, real estate consultants and services and business consultants.
We can assume that, in the near future, all 5 modern occupational groups will rapidly expand. Therefore, the needs of human resources for knowledge, capability, and skills to cope with the role of controlling and operating will increase rapidly.
The Expansion in the Scope of Occupations at the Country Level
The expansion of occupations in the area of business at the country level will mostly be based on the efficiency of both management and workers. Understanding and skills will be needed in the areas of capital management, imported materials, production and highly efficient processes with top priority in agriculture, industry, commerce, creative occupations. Therefore the second priority of business establishment is a business concerning in reducing the least damage to zero in order to support other main businesses.
Occupational Expansion at Global Level
If we look at the economy of developed countries such as the United States, England, France, Germany, and Japan, we will find that they have been engaged in heavy industries: car industry, chemical industry, electronics industry. However, most of these industries have damaged the environment. Therefore, they moved those industries to other countries with lower labor costs and then promoted their own countries in areas of art and cultural conservation, to developed cities and towns for tourism and agriculture for food: fruits, vegetables, meats produced in bio-farming system for the safety of the consumers in order to keep people healthy and make their well-being better.
From the example above, organic farming is the main occupation which is able to expand other occupations such as animal husbandry and fisheries, food processing business and eco-tourism business as well as organic farming education.
The development aims at reinforcing the knowledge based on society which includes creative thinking and the use of local wisdoms. The goal is to develop economic and investment structures related to domestic as well as international needs, to create value added in service sectors which are based on efficiency of innovation and creative thinking, to develop creative businesses and creative cities, and to increase farming products in quantity and value. Furthermore, the plan aims at improving technologies and processes of production appropriate to the environment, to develop the industrial sector based on the creative knowledge and appropriateness to the environment, to develop infrastructures and logistic systems, to build stable energy supplies and to revise laws and regulations concerning environmental and economic management to strengthen the domestic economy and improve its quality.
‘The Modern Creative Occupations are groups of occupations based on the linkage of knowledge, education, creativity, and intellectual property in culture and wisdom of the society by utilizing it for innovations and technologies.’ (Arkom Tiemphitayaphisit, 2010) The modern creative occupations seem to develop the existing occupations to fit into the modern markets in all levels of occupations.
Modern Creative Occupations are fashion garment, ornaments, cosmetics, hair style designing, media designing, movies, television, electrical devices, furniture makers, energy conservation materials for building and household, ceramics, handmade woven cloth, carvings, alternative energy cars, artificial legs for the handicapped, and cultural tourism at Ayothaya floating market.