Cambodia: Nearly 100 Public Employment Officers Trained to Support Future-Ready Labour Market

The training programme builds on insights gained during a South-South Cooperation knowledge exchange in 2024 between Cambodia and Indonesia, facilitated under the ILO’s ProSSCE-ASEAN project.

Nearly 100 officials from Cambodia’s Public Employment Services (PES) have now completed specialized capacity-building training to enhance the delivery of fast, accessible, and high-quality employment services across the country. This milestone marks a key step in Cambodia’s efforts to build a more inclusive, skills-driven, and resilient labour market—one that ensures jobseekers, including young people, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, are not left behind.

The initiative is jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Employment Agency (NEA) under the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, reflecting strong collaboration aligned with Cambodia’s national employment priorities.

---

A Training Model Rooted in Regional Cooperation and Practical Learning

The training programme builds on insights gained during a South-South Cooperation knowledge exchange in 2024 between Cambodia and Indonesia, facilitated under the ILO’s ProSSCE-ASEAN project. The exchange showcased practical reforms, digital job-matching solutions, and inclusive employment programme models.

The training follows a structured four-tier system:

1. Online self-paced foundational modules in Khmer

2. Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops

3. Provincial-level sessions for hands-on learning

4. Thematic webinars based on emerging labour market needs

This combined learning approach ensures that employment officers gain not only theoretical knowledge but also real-world counselling, outreach, labour market information (LMI) analysis, and digital service delivery skills.

---

Building a Workforce Prepared for the Future

Mrs. Hang Sereyvorlak, Deputy Director General of the NEA, emphasized the importance of continued training:

“Employment service counsellors play a vital role in responding to the needs of job seekers and employers. Strengthening their capabilities is essential to improving service quality, especially for vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities.”

She noted that this effort supports Cambodia’s long-term commitment to achieving inclusive employment policy targets by 2050.

---

Positive Impact Already Visible

Participants reported clear improvements in their ability to support jobseekers and employers.

Mr. Keu Chhieng, Chief of Pursat Job Centre, shared:

“Each tier of the training provides complementary skills. It strengthens my technical knowledge and interpersonal skills, making my services more efficient, inclusive, and client-centred.”

Practical components—including mock counselling sessions, labour market case studies, and digital tools demonstrations—allowed officers to apply what they learned immediately.

---

A Continued Commitment to Labour Market Transformation

This training programme is supported by two major ILO development cooperation initiatives:

• Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia, Phase III (DEY III) Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

• Promoting the Global Development Initiative with a Focus on South-South Cooperation in Employment in ASEAN (ProSSCE-ASEAN) Funded by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China

Together, these projects reinforce efforts under Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy Phase I, focused on strengthening human capital, promoting lifelong learning, and supporting quality employment systems.

Mr. Sheng Ling, Project Manager of the ILO ProSSCE-ASEAN project, highlighted the long-term impact:

“This programme is not just an investment in skills — it is an investment in the future of Cambodia’s workforce.”

---

Looking Ahead

With trained employment officers now stationed across provinces, Cambodia is moving closer to establishing a fully modernized employment service system—supporting:

• Better job matching

• Stronger employer engagement

• More efficient use of labour market data

• Expanded access to vocational training and career guidance

The next phase will focus on scaling digital platforms, strengthening monitoring systems, and equipping additional centres nationwide.

Cambodia’s investment in people and institutions is paving the way toward a more competitive, inclusive, and future-ready labour market.