2026 Thailand Talent Insights | Morgan Philips Thailand

ABOUT THE REPORT

The Death of the Perfect Candidate:

Is 80% the New 100%?

Morgan Philips Thailand surveyed hundreds of professionals and employers to explore how both sides of the hiring market define the right fit — and the findings reveal something striking: candidates and employers are more aligned than they may realise.

Both sides largely see 70–80% as a realistic level of match. Yet candidates continue to screen themselves out of opportunities, while employers continue to reject strong talent for missing individual requirements.

This report unpacks the hiring paradox and shares practical recommendations to help organisations define must-have skills versus trainable capabilities, unlock untapped talent pools, and focus on candidate potential and adaptability.

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Key insights you will gain from the report:

Why 70–80% is becoming the new sweet spot for role–candidate matching
How candidates and employers in Thailand are more aligned than they realise
Why candidates screen themselves out — and the hidden cost of the perfect job description

How employers reject strong talent for one or two missing skills — and the hiring paradox this creates
Where employers are willing to flex: industry experience, qualifications and technical skills
Practical recommendations to define essential skills, unlock untapped talent and hire for potential

KEY FINDINGS

What did our research find in Thailand?

Key statistics from our survey of Thai professionals and employers:

61% of candidates believe a 70–80% match is enough to apply
63% of employers typically expect a 70–80% match from shortlisted candidates
53% of candidates have not applied because they did not meet every requirement
77% of employers have rejected a strong candidate lacking one or two key skills
66% of employers would compromise on exact industry experience for a strong candidate
100% of candidates would consider a 70–80% match if development opportunities were provided

Download our report