in line with the standard discourse employment in industry increased slightly for thaibom workers and considerably for foreignbom workers suggesting increasing industrialisation in thailand s economy and an important role for immigrant labour in this process due to the increased employment opportunities in manufacturing and in other sectors there has been increased female immigration from abroad as well as heightened ruralurban immigration by foreignborn women rather than foreignbom men in general foreignbom workers male and female tend to be present more in the urban areas of thailand with the magnitude increasing over time