By Thailand is incorporating digital and green construction skills into its national workforce training and vocational education systems, according to Devdiscourse. The Department of Skill Development, under the Ministry of Labour, has developed courses in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Green Skills for Construction, drawing on standards and training materials produced through the ILO’s Advancing Digital and Green Skills for Youth in ASEAN project.
More than five in-person consultations and workshops helped adapt the standards and programmes to Thailand’s construction industry. The two Department of Skill Development courses are now ready for submission for management approval, with worker training anticipated to become available from January 2027 if approved. The Office of the Vocational Education Commission, under the Ministry of Education, has already integrated the project’s full 42 hours of green skills modules into construction curricula at certificate and diploma levels.
What the courses cover and who they reach
The BIM course focuses on digital construction skills, while Green Skills for Construction addresses environmental competencies for building work. The Vocational Education Commission has developed a separate BIM upskilling course based on the project materials, which teachers can deliver according to demand. Government, employer and worker representatives helped shape the Thai versions of the standards and training programmes, alongside training institutions and industry participants.
If the Department of Skill Development courses receive management approval, nationwide distribution is expected to reach all 77 skills development institutes. The next stage is a five-day, 40-hour Training of Trainers programme on Green Skills for Construction for 25 participants, including teachers and trainers from the Department of Skill Development, the Vocational Education Commission, and trainers working inside construction companies. Those participants will prepare to teach vocational students, unemployed young people and existing workers.
Chatiwut Thongkan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Skill Development, said the initiative could strengthen occupational skills, raise labour productivity and improve business competitiveness. Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, stressed that national ownership would help the programmes reach more people, respond to industry changes and continue beyond the project’s lifetime.
Why this matters for Thai employers
Thailand’s construction sector has faced persistent skills shortages, particularly in digital tools and sustainable building methods. The Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT) has advocated for government investment in digital workforce skills and positioning Thailand as an international training hub, according to ecot-th.com. The new DSD courses respond directly to that employer demand by creating a nationally recognised pathway for construction workers to gain BIM and green building competencies.
For HR and payroll teams, the practical implication is that construction employers will soon have access to subsidised, standardised training through the public system rather than relying solely on private providers. The integration into the national training system means certifications should carry portability across employers and recognition under Thailand’s skill standards framework. Employers should monitor whether the courses become eligible for funding through existing training incentive mechanisms, though specific subsidy details were not included in the announcement.
Bunchaluk Luesawat, Advisor on Vocational Education Standards for Business and Services at the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, said the commission was ready to expand implementation across vocational institutions nationwide, helping young people develop digital and green skills for future employment.
How the rollout is structured
The two-track approach matters for workforce planning. The Vocational Education Commission pathway targets students currently enrolled in certificate and diploma programmes, embedding 42 hours of green skills content directly into construction curricula. That means graduates entering the labour market from 2027 onward should arrive with baseline green construction knowledge already built into their qualifications.
The Department of Skill Development pathway targets existing workers, unemployed young people and those outside the formal education system. The anticipated January 2027 start date for worker training depends on management approval, so employers should treat that timeline as provisional. The Training of Trainers programme is the immediate next step, with 25 participants drawn from DSD institutes, vocational colleges and construction company training teams.
| Pathway | Target group | Status | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Education Commission curricula | Certificate and diploma students | Integrated, 42 hours | Already in place |
| DSD BIM and Green Skills courses | Existing workers, unemployed youth | Awaiting approval | Anticipated January 2027 |
| Training of Trainers | 25 teachers and trainers | Next stage | Five days, 40 hours |
What HR teams should do now
Construction employers with Thai operations should first identify which staff would benefit from BIM or green construction training and map those needs against the course content once DSD publishes full curricula. Second, HR teams should confirm whether their company trainers can participate in the Training of Trainers programme, since in-house trainers who complete it could deliver the material internally. Third, payroll and finance leads should budget for potential training time and any co-payment requirements, though the announcement did not specify fees or subsidy levels.
The regional context is also relevant. The ILO project spans ASEAN, and Thailand’s adoption of these standards positions its construction workforce to align with green building requirements emerging across Southeast Asia. Employers working on cross-border projects or supplying multinational clients may find that nationally recognised green skills certifications help meet procurement and compliance expectations.
The announcement does not specify online or hybrid delivery options, course fees, or how employers can formally enrol staff. Those details will likely follow once DSD management approves the courses and issues implementation guidance through the 77 skills development institutes.
Sources: Devdiscourse
Photo: US Navy 031103-N-5862D-082 Construction Electrician 2nd Class Ray Thomas is atte by U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Chris Desmond., Public domain
