“WHAT JOB CAN I DO?”: ANXIOUS TEACHERS IN EMPTY CLASSROOMS

Abstract

      The continuous decline in Thailand's birthrate has disrupted population growth over the past 30 years. This impact is now evident, as hundreds of university classrooms sit empty. Lecturers find themselves with no students to teach, rendering them redundant in the workforce. This study aims to investigate university lecturers' concerns about job security. Survey questionnaires were distributed to 30 lecturers from four universities. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with six lecturers, two of whom were already unemployed. The findings revealed that lecturers expressed a neutral level of concern regarding potential layoffs. The unemployed lecturers are not facing significant struggles, as they receive strong financial support from home. However, the position of university lecturer is no longer seen as secure as it once was, and lecturers must prepare themselves for the employment uncertainties arising from the declining number of students