Although the Thai economy is gradually recovering after the pandemic, the "gray economy" has expanded rapidly, becoming an "invisible giant beast" hanging over society. Street vendors, unlicensed tour guides, freelancers, live-streaming hosts, and gambling promoters are widespread across the country. According to data from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), currently, up to 48% of the workforce is in flexible employment, covering almost half of the economy.
These jobs, while sustaining basic livelihoods, generally face issues of low wages, lack of social security, and limited career development. For millions of Thais, working in the gray sector has become a reluctant choice, also reflecting the government's dilemma in creating high-quality jobs.
In major cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya, streets are filled with mobile vendors and ride-hailing drivers. On social platforms like Xiaohongshu and TikTok, many Thai youths have transitioned to becoming live-streaming hosts, purchasing agents, and even part-time online gambling promoters and cryptocurrency traders, contributing to a "virtual gray industry." On the surface, it appears bustling and prosperous, but behind it lies the anxiety of structural imbalances.
Scholars point out that the spread of the gray market also fuels illegal lending, underground gambling, and sex trade, severely undermining the foundation of the formal economy and exacerbating social divisions. "Young people lack hope, and social stratification is accelerating," warns a researcher.
Although the Thai government has tried to alleviate employment pressure through measures such as "legalizing street vending" and "night market economy," these are seen more as temporary solutions in the absence of long-term industrial planning and educational investment. Experts generally believe that only by promoting systemic reforms, supporting formal industries, and enhancing workforce skills can Thailand truly escape the "middle-income trap."
Thailand is currently being swept along by an invisible "ghost economy." Behind the facade of the prevalent gray market is a generation's confusion and loss about the future. If the cycle of low-end employment cannot be broken, the social rifts in Thailand may further widen, and the middle-class dream may become increasingly elusive.
