Phnom Penh, Cambodia – The industry and the government in Cambodia are strengthening their collaboration to ensure that skills qualifications and training better match the availability of jobs and the requirements of employers. Representatives from government, employers’ and workers’ organizations gathered in Phnom Penh on 24 March 2026 for the launch of a six-week capacity building programme on Measuring Skills Mismatches, marking an important step in strengthening Cambodia’s skills development system.
The participants included researchers and representatives from organisations including the industry-led Sector Skills Councils, the Directorate General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DGTVET), the Skills Development Fund (SDF), and National Employment Agency (NEA) among others. They will undertake training supported by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) which will introduce global practices to help analyse skills mismatches so that targeted improvements to the skills system can be developed and implemented.
The opening remarks from the Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations (CAMFEBA), and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) underscored the importance of aligning skills supply with labour market demand and strengthening public-private collaboration to support inclusive economic growth.
In his remarks, Sa Kennvidy, Deputy Director General of Directorate General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, MLVT, emphasized the urgency of strengthening Cambodia’s skills intelligence systems, noting that, “As our economy evolves and new technologies emerge, our skills system must move beyond training provision to better anticipate and respond to labour market needs. By improving how we measure and understand skills mismatches, we can design more effective policies and programmes that enhance employability, productivity, and competitiveness, while strengthening collaboration between government, employers, and workers.”
The initial workshop provided a platform for participants to build a shared understanding of skills mismatch concepts, review Cambodia’s existing labour market and TVET data systems, and identify key coordination challenges. Through interactive group exercises, participants mapped the causes and impacts of skills mismatches, highlighting issues such as limited coordination across data systems, gaps in sector-specific labour market information, and misalignment between training and industry needs.
The initiative is provided as part of ILO’s technical support for the implementation of the Cambodia’s National Roadmap for the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions – a multistakeholder initiative to accelerate progress to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through decent employment growth and expansion of social protection systems through coordinated action.
This capacity-building initiative will conclude in a final workshop to be held in May 2026 – that will focus on applying the methodologies and insights in practice. The initiative contributes to Cambodia’s efforts to build a more responsive, evidence-based and inclusive skills development system - support its vision to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income, developed country by 2050.