Cambodia Reviews Progress of Skills Program to Prepare Workforce for Future Economy

PHNOM PENH, Mar. 13, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia is stepping up efforts to strengthen its workforce through a national skills development program designed to prepare young people and workers for emerging industries, officials said Thursday.

The steering committee of the Skills for Future Economy Sector Development Program (SFESDP), chaired by Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour, held its second meeting to review progress and outline next steps.

The program, launched in late 2023, focuses on training in three priority technical fields — industrial engineering, machining technology, and IT network programming — delivered through eight institutions nationwide.

Minister Sour said the initiative aims to tackle Cambodia’s shortage of high-level technical skills while supporting industrial growth, including automation and advanced manufacturing. More than 30,000 youth and workers are expected to benefit from vocational training supported by the Skills Development Fund.

He urged training institutions to expand cooperation with factories and companies to promote work-based learning, ensuring graduates gain practical experience alongside classroom instruction. The government also plans to boost outreach to encourage more female students to enroll in technical programs.

The SFESDP runs until 2030 with financing from the Asian Development Bank, Agence Française de Développement, and the Cambodian government.