Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS) has been named the "best of the best" employer in Thailand by management consultant Aon Hewitt.

Seven other companies -- Advanced Contact Center Co, American Express (Thai) Co, McThai Co, Mitr Phol Sugar Factory, Phyathai 3 Hospital, Swensen's (Thai) Ltd and Toyota Motor Thailand Co -- were honoured as best employers for their engagement with employees to help drive their businesses to higher profits, among other grading criteria.

AIS has been consistent with its business performance and management, while it was named one of the best employers in Thailand in 2011, 2013 and 2015, said Aon Hewitt (Thailand) managing director Panuwat Benrohman.

The Aon Best Employers Programme is a survey conducted across 10 Asia-Pacific countries, while the survey in Thailand involves close collaboration between Aon Hewitt and Chulalongkorn University's Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration.

More than 80 companies and 184,000 employees in Thailand took part in the survey, conducted between October and March.

"Digital transformation in human resources is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity and best employers in Thailand are well positioned to do that," Mr Panuwat said.

Best employers in Thailand registered scores in employee engagement at 87%, higher than the market average of 63%.

They have also achieved 51% higher profit than the market average while filling 21% more openings internally.

Some 88% of Thai best employers have specific talent programmes targeted towards Generation Y, defined as those born between 1979 and 1990, compared with the market average of 66%.

About 84% of employees at these eight companies believe their organisations deliver on promises, higher than the 56% average at other participating organisations, while 85% also believe that senior executives treat them as the organisation's most valued asset compared with 57% of employees in the market.

Some 89% of these employees would recommend their companies to a jobseeker, higher than the market average of 68%.

Mitr Phol Biofuel Co received special recognition as the best employer for Generation Y, with Marriott International Thailand named as the best employer through the global programme.

Rising salaries, an inadequate leadership pipeline and poor availability of talent in the labour market are the top three "people risks" identified by chief executives of the surveyed companies, said Aon Hewitt (Thailand) country head Adisak Chandprapalert.