Unemployment rose in the third quarter due mainly to the sluggish economy, plus drought and floods in many farm areas.
The weak economy has prompted entrepreneurs to delay investment expansion, affecting new job creation, said Chutinart Wongsuban, deputy secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).
A social situation and outlook report from the NESDB said unemployment was equal to 0.84% of the total workforce in the third quarter, up from 0.77% in the same period last year.
The total workforce totalled 38.8 million in the third quarter, 38.4 million of which were employed, down by 1.8% year-on-year.
Agricultural employment fell by 17.5% or 2.86 million from the same quarter last year due to drought and floods, reducing farmers' confidence in agricultural prices.
However, employment in the non-agricultural sector rose 9.6% or 2.17 million, mainly in manufacturing, transport, retail, hotels, restaurants and property.
The NESDB reported average working hours stood at 44.9 hours per person per week, 0.9% higher than the same period last year.
Wages and salaries in the private sector excluding overtime pay and other benefits in the third quarter of 2014 rose by 9.2% from the same period last year.
The minimum wage hike in April 2012 has apparently narrowed the private labour wage gap from 7.5 times in 2012 (prior to the adjustment) to 5.4 times in this year's third quarter.
However, there are 2.8 million full-time (40 hours or more) workers whose wages remain lower than the minimum wage.
Labour productivity during the third quarter went up by 2.4%, a slower rate than the wage rise.
This occurred in almost all sectors including manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, transport and banking.
Only hotels and restaurants experienced a higher increase in labour productivity than in wage rises.
Household debt slowed in the third quarter, but increased default payments need to be closely monitored, Mrs Chutinart said.
Total outstanding commercial banks' personal consumer credit stood at 3.39 trillion baht or 8% growth, slowing for the seventh consecutive quarter from 10.7% and 8.8% in the first and second quarters, respectively.
While housing and other consumer loans increased, automobile loans fell.
Default debts on personal loans under supervision and credit cards continued to rise but do not yet pose an economic risk.