DIGITAL LITERACY AND CAREER ADAPTATION OF STREET FOOD VENDOR IN BANGKOK

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the factors influencing occupational adaptability among street food vendors in Bangkok. Specifically, it investigated three main area: 1) personal demographic factors—namely age, educational level, and number of family members; 2) mindset; and (3) digital literacy skills. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 208 participants through a structured questionnaire. The participants were street food vendors operating in designated leniency zones across six districts of Bangkok: Bang Sue, Bang Na, Phra Nakhon, Khlong San, Bang Khun Thian, and Prawet. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that: 1) family size (3–5 members or more), 2) mindset, and 3) digital literacy significantly influenced the adaptive capacity for occupational engagement among street food vendors in Bangkok at the 0.05 level of statistical significance.These three variables jointly explained 58% of the variance in occupational adaptability. Among them, digital literacy had the strongest effect (β = 0.659), followed by mindset (β = 0.131) and family size (β = 0.123).Together, these variables explained 58% of the variance in occupational adaptability. The most important factor was digital literacy skills (β = 0.659), followed by mindset (β = 0.131), and having 3–5 or more family members (β = 0.123). Based on these findings, it is recommended that government policies should focus on supporting street food vendors by providing training programs to enhance digital literacy and by fostering a growth-oriented mindset. Such programs are especially important for vendors who live in smaller-sized families, since they usually have fewer based social networks. Enhancing these competencies can help vendors effectively cope with crises and strengthen their occupational adaptability.