Workers prepare the road surface at the capital’s new interchange construction site on March 12. Heng Chivoan
Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Heng Sour has explained that Cambodia needs to develop a highly skilled and diverse workforce if it wants to attract investment and reach its 2050 goal of earning high-income country status.
He made the remarks while presiding over the launch ceremony of the “Skills Development Programmes for Future Economy”, held on March 11 at the ministry headquarters. In attendance were representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and French development agency AFD, according to the ministry’s March 12 social media post.
Sour said a diverse labour force is essential if Cambodia is to attract foreign investment, and that a highly skilled workforce will also act as a stimulant to the country’s development, in line with the goal of elevating the Kingdom to upper-middle-income status by 2030 and high-income by 2050.
“In response to the current situation, we must close the skills gap with other nations and address the shortage of specialised industrial experts. This will serve as a solid buttress for Cambodia to develop a robust economy,” he said.
The minister added that many vocational training mechanisms are being implemented, in response to the first phase of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy, as well as the Strategic Plan for Employment Development, Social Security and Vocational Training 2024-28.
Ministry spokesperson Katta Orn explained that Cambodia has a favourable foreign investment environment, thanks to the peace and political stability it enjoys.
Because of this, there is potential for a massive future influx of capital, which will require a skilled labour force to support it.
Therefore, the government has outlined plans to offer training to 1.5 million young people from poor and vulnerable households.
The policy, announced in November last year, stated that no tuition fees will be charged, and that trainees will receive a monthly allowance to support them while they study.
“To date, over 30,000 young people have enrolled in 37 training facilities, and more schools are being developed. These students are gaining valuable skills which will meet the demands of the labour market, both now and in the future,” said Orn.
He added that the ministry is working closely with several international partners and the private sector to encourage more young people to enrol in vocational training programmes, especially those who failed to pursue their education at university or dropped out of school.
“We encourage them to come and study, free of charge. We have scheduled a range of study options to make it as easy as possible for them. They can study full time for four months, or attend evening classes for eight months. There are also weekend courses, which take 10 months to complete,” he explained.
“In order to offer them new opportunities, we have to alter the mindset of young people who do not want to study. They need to understand that when they have useful skills, they will earn higher incomes,” he added.
Meas Nee, a social development commentator, agreed with the plans, noting the importance of vocational training, especially as the dropout rate among young Cambodians remains high.
He said that around 3,000 eligible students failed to even sit their high school exams in 2023, and that only 14 to 15 per cent of those who passed went on to pursue higher education.
“We need a clear plan which matches vocational training to the demands of the job market. In general, young people don’t like studying, but it is also fair to say that many graduates start businesses rather than studying, because they need to earn an income to support themselves,” he added.
