BANGKOK – Across much of the world, young people are turning away from military service. In Thailand, they are lining up.

Voluntary enlistment in the South-east Asian nation has climbed steadily over the past five years, so much so that in some districts, annual conscription quotas, which happen in April, are being filled from ranks of willing men alone.

It is somewhat paradoxical, considering the recent, lethal border clashes with Cambodia have made clear that military service is no longer a distant abstraction. Around 40 Thai soldiers have been killed in skirmishes along Thailand’s north-eastern boundary with its neighbour, primarily during escalations in 2025.

For many however, the uptick is driven less by patriotism than by economics.

A sluggish economy in Thailand is squeezing job prospects, especially for the young.

Exports and tourism, the country’s two main growth engines, have faltered – the latter hit particularly hard by the recent Iran war. Falling prices for key crops such as rice and sugarcane, as well as higher fertiliser costs, have meanwhile eroded rural incomes. 

Youth unemployment is roughly five times the national average and for many entering the workforce, a stable job is rare. The military, by contrast, offers a steady pay cheque.

“There’s no real certainty of being sent to war,” 22-year-old Chawanakorn Manyum said last week after being fitted for his uniform at a Bangkok draft centre. “But there’s a guarantee of income.”

Mr Chawanakorn had been doing irregular construction work with his parents. Enlisting for the armed forces, he said, offers structure and a path forward. He plans to apply for non-commissioned officer training after completing his initial service.