#Workforce

The latest wave of demographic research suggests America is teetering on a “demographic cliff.” Birth rates have fallen for years, aging workers are thinning the ranks, and colleges, businesses, and urban planners are scrambling to respond. The result could slow growth, strain social services, and force a rapid rethinking of how the economy trains, recruits, and retains talent. For readers in Thailand, where aging populations and shifting workforce needs are already reshaping policy and everyday life, the message is clear: demographic change is not distant—it is happening now, and no country remains untouched.

A global shift in mental health care is reshaping how families access support, and Thai households are watching closely. As thousands of professionals pivot to therapy careers, Thai communities seek sustainable, culturally resonant ways to meet growing demand.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, interest in therapy careers has surged. Career counselors in major economies report many professionals leaving traditional roles to pursue training in mental health, driven by rising demand and a shift in attitudes toward meaningful work. Government labor data point to robust growth in counseling and family therapy roles, with projections showing steady expansion into the next decade. In particular, positions for marriage and family therapists are expected to rise well above average growth, signaling a shift in the healthcare landscape that could influence Thai access to mental health services.

The world is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in mental health care as thousands of professionals pivot to therapy careers. This global shift carries profound implications for Thai families seeking quality mental health support in an evolving healthcare landscape.

The Post-Pandemic Career Migration

Following the global pandemic, mental health careers have experienced extraordinary growth. Career counselors across major economies report a dramatic increase in professionals abandoning traditional paths to pursue therapy training. This trend reflects both rising demand for mental health services and changing attitudes toward meaningful work.

A surge of new therapists is reshaping how people seek help for mental health. This trend affects job markets, care access, and everyday conversations in Thailand and abroad.

More people choose therapy careers after the pandemic. The shift reflects higher demand for mental-health services and new work paths. ((WSJ: When Did All of These People Become Therapists?))

U.S. official forecasts show rapid growth in mental-health jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong growth for counselors and family therapists. ((BLS: Strong growth projected in mental health-related employment))

During a recent appearance at the Federal Reserve’s Capital Framework for Large Banks conference, the chief executive officer of OpenAI delivered a stark prediction: artificial intelligence (AI) will not only transform work but will completely eliminate entire job categories in the coming years. Speaking candidly before top policymakers and financial leaders in Washington, the CEO emphasized AI’s relentless advance, signaling a fundamental shift in how societies—and economies—must prepare for a labor future remade by technology (The Guardian).

A leading AI executive warned at a Federal Reserve conference that artificial intelligence could redefine, and in some cases erode, entire job categories in the coming years. The message urges governments, schools, businesses, and workers to prepare for a future where roles may change or disappear as technology advances. For Thai readers, this signals a labor landscape in which routine tasks could be automated, and new skill sets will be in higher demand.

Recent research highlights a global shift: with the average human lifespan rising rapidly, younger generations are poised to experience profoundly different careers, family lives, and retirement than any generation before. According to a new analysis shared by ROAR Forward and featured in a US media report, life expectancy in developed nations has ballooned from 62 years a century ago to approximately 80 today, with experts forecasting over 20 million centenarians worldwide by 2100. This longevity revolution is sending ripple effects across societies—and nowhere are those effects more relevant than in rapidly aging Asian nations like Thailand.

A global shift is underway: people live longer, and younger generations will build longer careers, healthier families, and fuller lives than any generation before. A recent analysis from ROAR Forward, highlighted in U.S. coverage, shows life expectancy in developed nations rising from about 62 a century ago to around 80 today, with experts predicting more than 20 million centenarians worldwide by 2100. In Thailand and other aging Asian societies, these trends are reshaping education, work, and social policy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape the global workforce far more swiftly and pervasively than many once imagined, according to a new analysis by leading researchers published in the Harvard Business Review. Based on current developments in AI technology—not hypothetical future advances—the report highlights that any aspect of work that can be measured is vulnerable to automation, sparking a wave of change through both creative and traditionally “safe” professions worldwide.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating faster than many expected, with measurable work tasks increasingly at risk of automation. A recent analysis in the Harvard Business Review shows that highly capable AI models are not only handling routine office duties but also challenging expertise across many fields. The result could be a broad shift in both creative and traditional professions worldwide, including roles in law, medicine, and academia.

For Thailand, the implications are significant. In Bangkok’s financial sector, AI-assisted tools are already streamlining risk assessment and tax work. In the creative industries, automated video editing, image manipulation, and even storytelling are gaining traction. Thailand’s strong arts and crafts tradition remains vital, but new digital competencies will be essential to stay competitive regionally and globally.

A global shift is reshaping perceptions of higher education as young people question the value of a college degree. In the United States, a growing portion of Gen Z says college may not be worth the cost, a revelation that could influence education and employment trends in Thailand as well.

Rising tuition, heavy student debt, and doubts about the wage premium are central to this debate. Data from research conducted by Indeed Hiring Lab and Harris Poll in March 2025 shows that 51% of Gen Z respondents with an associate degree or higher consider their degree a waste of money. This view contrasts sharply with older generations and reflects a broader concern about return on investment. Reports across American media highlight a national mood of skepticism, while parallel polls from other outlets confirm a similar pattern.

A wave of skepticism is sweeping across the United States as a new generation of young adults—especially those from Generation Z—are increasingly questioning the value of a college degree. Recent research reveals that more than half of young Americans now view their college education as a waste of money, a significant shift with profound implications for individuals, educational institutions, and global workforce dynamics.

This generational disillusionment comes at a time when tuition costs have soared, student debt continues to climb, and the traditional advantages of holding a degree are increasingly in doubt. For Thai readers, these trends bear close watching, as they reflect global currents in higher education and could foreshadow developments in Thailand’s own educational landscape.

A recent story making headlines reveals the sobering fallout of artificial intelligence’s relentless advance: a seasoned software engineer, once commanding a $150,000 annual salary, found himself abruptly replaced by AI, rejected from over 800 subsequent job applications, forced to drive for DoorDash and live in a trailer just to make ends meet (yahoo.com). His words echo a growing sentiment: “AI obsolescence is coming for basically everyone in due time.”

This account is not simply a tale of individual struggle; it is the latest bellwether of a seismic shift reverberating through the global workforce. For readers in Thailand, this signals an urgent need to examine our own societal preparation for the age of AI—a transformation that extends far beyond Silicon Valley.

A striking story about AI disruption is traveling across borders: a veteran software engineer once earning a six-figure salary found himself displaced by AI, facing hundreds of job rejections, and turning to gig work to survive. The human toll is real and echoes a broader shift impacting workers worldwide. For Thai readers, this highlights the urgent need to plan for an AI-enabled economy that touches every sector, from health and education to culture and tourism.

A wave of AI adoption among global giants is driving layoffs and reshaping industries. Companies like Klarna, UPS, Duolingo, Intuit, and Cisco are accelerating automation to cut costs and boost productivity in an uncertain economy. This trend matters for Thailand, where services, manufacturing, and a growing tech sector could face similar disruption if AI adoption accelerates.

For Thai readers, the story is a practical wake-up call. Thailand’s economy relies on logistics, retail, finance, and tourism—sectors already embracing digital tools. How will automation affect jobs here, and what can workers and policymakers do to stay ahead?

A recent wave of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among global corporate giants including Klarna, UPS, Duolingo, Intuit, and Cisco is fueling a surge in layoffs, sparking growing concerns over employment security as automation reshapes entire industries. The trend has significant implications for Thai businesses and workers as the pressure to integrate AI and streamline operations intensifies across Southeast Asia’s largest economies.

An in-depth article by Forbes highlights the accelerating pace at which leading companies are deploying AI to cut costs, raise productivity, and remain competitive in an environment marked by economic uncertainty, inflation, and fluctuating stock prices (Forbes). The dramatic shift, once described as “employee friendly,” now presents a stark reality: human positions are increasingly vulnerable as AI-powered systems become capable of efficiently handling tasks that previously required large teams of staff.