Abstract:
The objective of this study is to study the Social Investment Project carried out by the Department of Skill Development. The study also includes the result of this project in the aspects of developing skill, increasing income, helping family and community, and organizing local businesss to strengthen the community. The target population for interview are 300 labours at the age of fifteen year old and over who participated in this project. The selected sites were Nakhonratchasima, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani. All interviews were conducted with structured questionnaire and at the same time the interviewer was asked to take note through observation. The findings show that there are some drawbacks in this project, for example, fixed time for all different skills training, motivation from money paid during training, little utilization from local natural resources, and relationship between the person who selects the trainees and the trainees. A study of performance of the project indicates that not only the laid-off and unemployment workers participate in this project but also the farmers. In addition, most of the trainees can develop their skills. However, somebody increases his or her income after training but still has a little saving. The increasing income is sufficient only for necessary household consumption and child education. Moreover, there is high level of mutual relationship among the people in the community. The study also reveals that there are not enough labour markets and product markets for them after trained. The government should solve this problem and allocate the budget for the trainees who want to set up their small businesses. In addition, the finding about strengthening of the community shows that youth labours who was laid-off and unemployed because of the economic crisis tend to come back to find the jobs in Bangkok and the near by provinces if the economy recover. Furthermore, the farmers and over thirty-five year old women decided to work in their community that helps the community strong: however, it is difficult to organize business as a group because of several reasons such as the lack of funding, leadership, and management skill.