According to The Nation Thailand, a report by consulting firm Grant Thornton shows that business optimism in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC) increased from 35% to 48% over the past three months. The survey included more than 3,000 companies across 44 countries.
The report also highlights an increase in the number of companies in APAC planning to hire new employees—from 38% to 43%. Thailand currently ranks second in the world in this category, with 72% of Thai companies planning to recruit new staff. Additionally, the proportion of companies in APAC intending to raise salaries rose from 60% to 76% over the last quarter, while in Thailand it increased from 36% to 52%.
Meanwhile, 42% of APAC companies (up 5% from the previous quarter) plan to raise prices due to inflation. In contrast, Thailand has seen a positive trend, with the number of such companies decreasing from 54% to 44%.
Ian Pascoe, Senior Partner at Grant Thornton, stated that these figures reflect the strong business growth momentum in Thailand and other ASEAN countries. Many companies are planning to hire for key positions, but this must be done strategically. Growth opportunities are also driving increased interest in mergers and acquisitions, both domestically and internationally, which requires careful planning and skilled personnel to ensure long-term success.
Countries with the Highest Business Optimism:
- Peru (98%)
- Philippines (92%)
- United Arab Emirates (92%)
- Mexico (84%)
- India (83%)
Companies Planning to Hire New Employees:
- India (76%)
- Thailand (72%)
- Georgia (72%)
- Peru (68%)
- UAE (58%)