Hiring in Supply Chain & Engineering: More contract roles while digital and mobility requirements rise

Businesses hunkered down, exercising extra caution when hiring in 2025 as they weathered turbulent macroeconomic factors. Trade tensions, tariffs, inflation, and Thailand’s political events all resulted in supply chain disruptions that held businesses back from meeting financial targets.

“Hiring was focused on key positions that could lead businesses ahead. We received requests for confidential searches at the top management level, to replace incumbents who failed to deliver,” divulges Kritsada Suthepakul, Senior Manager at Robert Walters Thailand.

Recruitment processes stretched out as companies wanted to be more sure they had the right fit, given fixed headcounts. However, this carefulness backfired at times. Some important positions were unfilled for longer than ideal as companies lost out on promising candidates when they spent more time on their search.

As companies grappled with tight costs, demand went down for mid-level positions as budgets went instead to junior-level candidates who could fill technical or specialised roles. These types of talent were hard to come by as younger candidates tended to lack specialised skills. Mid-level candidates were also less willing to move jobs as they believed newer hires are more likely to get let go during layoffs.

Read on to find out more about the labour market and hiring trends for Thailand’s Supply Chain & Engineering professionals in 2026.

More contract roles and digital skills needed

Kritsada expects to see more contract positions at the middle and senior-levels in the coming year. Professionals will also need to work with higher mobility, as they will be expected to manage workloads across different sites. Job scopes will increasingly expand to include capabilities with digital tools and simulation.

Top roles and skills for 2026

Within the supply chain function, demand will be highest for roles in sourcing and procurement, integrated business planning, and end-to-end supply chain. The most sought-after engineering positions will be in research and development, greenfield and brownfield engineering, and plant and operations managers.

No matter the role, employers deeply value professionals who are adaptable, learn fast, and adept at cross-functional collaboration and conflict resolution.

Career growth and upskilling matter to all

Job security weighs heavily on candidates’ minds and they are worried about switching jobs at this time. To attract and retain employees, companies should offer flexible work arrangements, provide exposure to global projects or responsibilities where available, and work with talent to lay out career development goals.

Upskilling is more important than ever as AI and automation takes over various workflows in the industry. Tasks like supply chain demand planning, customer service, purchasing, lower-level production processes, and quality, maintenance and process engineering are most at risk of integration with AI.

“What candidates can do now to strengthen their relevancy in the market is to broaden their scope of work,” advises Kritsada.

Instead of sticking only to operational tasks, develop stakeholder management skills and put your hand up for strategic-level work.

Standard increments for most roles

Wages are expected to go up by 10 – 15% across most positions, though talent who are headhunted may receive increments of 30% as they are expected to hit the ground running fast.

Find out more

Request access to our 2026 Salary Survey to benchmark salaries and to find out more about key hiring trends in the Supply Chain & Engineering industry in Thailand.