The Education Ministry is asking universities to study the government's megaprojects to find out what type of workers will be needed and how many.
The ministry has asked universities to build projections of likely demand for workers into their plans to produce graduates.
Deputy Education Minister Krissanapong Kirtikara said yesterday the ministry will ask universities to analyse megaprojects such as the rail transport system and water-management projects.
"It's clear the dual-track rail project will adopt either the Japanese or Chinese model. We want universities to analyse how many workers and what type will be needed in each construction model," Mr Krissanapong said.
"Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created," he said.
A preliminary analysis has been completed, based on a European model of constructing a high-speed railway.
It found about 10,000 workers will be needed for the construction of each kilometre of the route, he said.
The Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) will discuss the matter at its next meeting at the Suranaree University of Technology in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday, he said.
Thailand must plan ahead for projected manpower, or the country will see workers from other nations flooding the labour market, Mr Krissanapong said.
The country should try its best to produce as many qualified workers as possible, he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted yesterday that 2% is the highest interest rate which Thailand can accept from China for loans to finance their joint railway projects.
The Thai side had been negotiating for a 2% rate of interest or lower, Gen Prayut said. If it fails to get the interest rate it wants, Thailand will apply only for some minimal loans from China and find the rest from other sources.
"We're not going to bow to whatever China says is right," he said. "No problems arose in talks between the leaders of the two nations. The problems lie with other mechanisms, such as the [Chinese] construction companies involved."
On Tuesday, Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said some of the loans might be borrowed from elsewhere. Japan has been mentioned as one option.
Thailand signed an agreement with China last year to build the 734km-long Nong Khai-Nakhon Ratchasima-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut railway line and a 133km-track from Kaeng Khoi to Bangkok.