‘Skills Gap’ Remains an Impediment to Growth, New Report Says

Cambodia must tackle the skills gap to boost the productivity of its labor force in order to grow its economy, a new report issued by the Asian Development Bank and the International Labor Organization says.

“Most of the country’s labor force is young, but often not equipped with skills that match business needs,” ADB chief economist Shang-Jin Wei said Thursday.

That requires more education and vocational training, along with more information about the labor market and its needs. That also requires more support for the broader economy, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.

Heng Sour, a spokesman for the Ministry of Labor told VOA Khmer that the government is working toward addressing the skills gap, including in engineering, electronics and mechanics.

“We agree with the report,” he said. “And the government is focusing on implementing the policies into action.”

Chan Sophal, an economist in Phnom Penh, said the skills gap is creating youth unemployment, particularly for students after they graduate. That means a loss of income, and revenue, for the country.