Cambodia Intensifies Focus on Skills-Based Workforce, 3,000 Placed at Career Fair

PHNOM PENH, Sep 14, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia is intensifying efforts to build a skills‑based workforce, with nearly 3,000 job seekers securing employment through the country’s 2026 National Career and Productivity Fair, officials said Sunday. The two‑day event, the 16th edition of the fair, was held under the theme “Skills and Jobs: Productivity for Sustainable Economic Growth.” The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said around 120,000 people participated both in person and online. Nearly 50,000 attended on site, while tens of thousands joined virtually. About 20,000 job seekers registered and submitted CVs, and companies conducted some 5,000 interviews during the fair. National Employment Agency director Ouch Cheachanmolika said nearly 3,000 candidates secured jobs immediately, with recruitment continuing after the event. Labour Minister Heng Sour said the fair aimed not only to connect job seekers with employers but also to provide career counselling and information on current and future skills needs. A key initiative was the “Job Garden,” a one‑stop service where participants could prepare CVs, receive advice, submit applications and attend interviews. Sour described it as part of a shift from “waiting to provide services” to “bringing services closer to citizens.” He stressed the importance of preparing Cambodia’s workforce for a structural transition from labour‑intensive industries toward skills‑based sectors, as technological and industrial development reshapes employment needs. The government, he added, would continue improving the investment climate to help businesses expand and create jobs. International Labour Organization representative Helen Kirsch said Cambodia’s future workforce will increasingly require technical, digital and soft skills. She urged young people to keep learning and adapting to remain competitive. Officials said stronger links between skills, employment and productivity are critical to sustaining economic growth and enhancing Cambodia’s competitiveness as its industries evolve.