The Economic Impact of International Migrant Workers in Thailand
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Abstract
This study investigates the impact of international migrant workers on Thailand’s GDP by employing an extended Cobb-Douglas production function that disaggregates labor into native, high-skilled migrant, and low-skilled migrant inputs, using data from 2007 to 2023. Based on secondary time-series and panel data, the findings confirm the dominant role of capital in driving GDP, while labor contributions vary by skill level and sector. Notably, high-skilled migrant labor is typically associated with a positive and statistically significant output elasticity across multiple model specifications. In contrast, low-skilled labor shows a more limited effect in long-run aggregated data but exhibits sector-specific relevance in short-term, quarterly models. The results highlight the importance of skill-based migration strategies to enhance productivity and long-term development.
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