Thailand’s unemployment rate dropped to 1.0% in the fourth quarter of 2009, helped by the economic recovery and the expansion in the export sector, according to data released by the Economic and Social Development Board’s deputy secretary Suwannee Khamman.

She said there were 37.7 people in the job market for the year, up 1.8% from a year ago, and the year’s rate of unemployment was 1.5%.

Ms. Suwannee commented that people entering to the job market also received higher education, thanks to the government’s free education program. However, the market remains in need of skilled workers at particularly niches.