Thai men sign up for military, driven by prospect of steady pay amid sluggish economy

Across much of the world, young people are turning away from military service. In Thailand, they are queuing up.Voluntary enlistment in the Southeast 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 northeastern boundary with its neighbour, primarily during escalations in 2025.For many, however, the uptick is driven less by patriotism than by economics.Men receive a medical examination before drawing their ballots for the Thai military conscription lottery in Bangkok on Tuesday. Photo: AFPA 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 sugar cane, as well as higher fertiliser costs, have meanwhile eroded rural incomes.