Hiring in Human Resources (Eastern Seaboard): Trends shaping the future of work

The announcement of US tariffs had little impact on orders in Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard in 2025. In fact, the region continued to benefit from trade tensions as many Chinese companies moved and expanded production lines in the region.

Furthermore, orders soared for companies producing automotive parts used in both electric and combustion cars. Multiple electric vehicle brands established new plants in Thailand, with their suppliers following suit. 

Overall, labour demand held steady even though some companies – particularly those in the FMCG industry – sought to lower costs by using automation.

"Any reduction in headcounts on one side were compensated for by freshly established companies that sought labour for their new plants," relates Rungnapa Charoenrungsiri, Senior Manager at Robert Walters Thailand.

Read on to find out more about the labour market and hiring trends for Thailand’s Human Resources professionals in 2026.

Steady, healthy hiring appetite

Hiring volumes are expected to remain consistent in 2026.

More businesses will continue to locate their production facilities in the Eastern Seaboard as trade tensions show no signs of easing. Consequently, this will bolster demand for technical engineers and Chinese-speaking professionals.

Top roles and skills for 2026

Analytical skills are now extremely valuable as it is a muscle that talent will have to exercise across many HR responsibilities: budgeting, auditing, adjusting to cost changes, raising productivity and lowering production costs to keep plants up and running.

Collaboration and data literacy are also important now that global companies expect HR to go beyond traditional duties to partner finance and production teams.

These skills are also what will help professionals – from operators and engineers to support functions – to future-proof their careers against AI.

In 2026, the top roles in the hiring market will be human resources manager, human  resources business partner, and HR director/TA manager.

Company culture matters most

In the Eastern Seaboard, culture often makes or breaks an employee’s decision to stay with a company or not. In Rungnapa’s experience, most mid- to senior-level professionals tend to stay with the same company if they are happy with the culture, management team and compensation.

Culture, then, is the main area of focus that employers should focus on to improve talent attraction and retention. While top management sets the tone for the company, it is important to keep mid-level managers engaged as they cascade management direction.

In addition, Rungnapa advises companies to be proactive with compensation. “Don’t wait to adjust salaries only when candidates resign. Counteroffers may not work because there are many companies that are willing to pay generously,” she states.

Larger increments for some talent

The HR function plays a more critical role in companies than ever. Top talent and employees in key positions can expect salaries to go up significantly. Compensation packages will likely include performance-based bonuses or stock options to encourage retention.

Find out more

Request access to our 2026 Salary Survey to benchmark salaries and to find out more about key hiring trends in the Human Resources industry in Thailand, Eastern Seaboard.