Pengte Saoborina: ‘HR agencies are seeing strong demand for skilled workers.’ Hong Menea
While construction cranes hover over Phnom Penh’s skyline, recruitment and employment agencies are swooping on qualified candidates to fill a myriad of positions that go along with the current property boom.
“Compared with the last two years, the labour pool is very different today,” said Pengte Saoborina, Business Development Director of the human resources agency Phnom List. “I believe all HR agencies are seeing strong demand in job postings related to real estate and construction companies.”
The demand for labour starts from the ground up, with companies seeking architects and draughtsmen before a project begins, and completed ventures requiring workers ranging from security guards to cleaners once they have topped out.
Between the start and finish, sales and marketing executives were in high demand.
“Jobs in the property sector have really been increasing,” said Saoborina, adding that one of the biggest growth areas was related to new condominiums whose developers were seeking property managers, sales executives, marketing experts and business development officers.
Wages and salaries have also gone up as a result of the boom.
A foreign property manager with around five years experience could expect to earn between $1,500 to $3,000 a month, while a similarly experienced local counterpart could make around $2,000.
The range of salary for entry-level quantity surveyor – a popular route for young Cambodians with a technical college education – was between $250 to $700.
Freshly graduated university students with no work experience can expect to earn around $350 per month in their first role.
Sophea Sam, a senior consultant with Top Recruitment, echoed the trend.
She said demand was currently particularly strong for qualified individuals in the following positions: leasing manager, residential manager, sales and marketing, and sales executive.
“There is also a great need for specialised labour to manage and maintain properties,” she said. For example, the need for cleaners, security guides and maintenance workers is growing.”
