Cambodia says garment sector will stay top employer

Cambodia’s garment and textile industry is set to remain the country’s biggest source of jobs over the next three years, according to Labour Minister Heng Sour.

Speaking on a ministry podcast this week, Sour said research and investment data show textiles, garments, footwear and travel goods will continue to dominate employment. The sector’s demand is not limited to factory workers, he noted, but increasingly requires technicians and specialists in automation and mechatronics to keep production lines running.

Beyond manufacturing, services such as tourism, hospitality, retail and banking are also expected to generate significant employment. Agriculture, meanwhile, will see fewer workers as mechanisation expands, though output is expected to hold steady.

The minister estimated Cambodia could create between 300,000 and 360,000 jobs annually, absorbing both school leavers and graduates. He stressed that while the main industries will remain, the skills required will evolve, with future demand for programmers and technicians able to manage automated systems.

University rector Chet Chealy echoed the call for higher‑level skills, urging young people to choose studies based on passion and long‑term goals rather than short‑term trends.

Entrepreneur Pech Bolen added that closer cooperation between schools, training centres and businesses is needed to bridge skills gaps.

Exports from the garment sector rose 6.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, underlining its continued role as Cambodia’s economic engine and largest employer.

-2026-09-02