Phnom Penh — Employment in Cambodia saw a notable increase in 2025, with the total number of employed persons reaching approximately 10.7 million, a rise of around 800,000 compared with 2024, according to figures released by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training.
Labour Minister Heng Sour announced the employment figures during the 2025 Annual Performance Review and 2026 Work Direction Conference in Phnom Penh. The increase reflects expansion across key sectors of the economy, with the services sector employing 4.9 million people, followed by industry with 3 million workers and agriculture with 2.8 million.
In addition to the rise in employment, the ministry reported an increase in registered enterprises. A total of 46,649 enterprises were registered in 2025, up by 1,851 from the previous year, providing jobs for about 2.2 million workers. This represented an increase of more than 400,000 employed persons within registered businesses year-on-year.
Officials highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening the labour market and addressing employment challenges across regions. These included a 24/7 employment hotline, public awareness campaigns, job search tools through digital platforms, and employment forums bringing job opportunities directly to communities. The campaigns also targeted returning migrant workers, with about 620,000 of more than 900,000 Cambodians returning from Thailand in 2025 securing employment domestically.
The ministry’s efforts formed part of broader policies to enhance workforce participation and improve employment services, contributing to national economic growth amid global uncertainties. Authorities noted that coordinated engagement with local and provincial administrations, employers, trade unions, and international partners supported improvements in labour services, social security and vocational training.
Growth in employment figures is viewed as an indicator of economic resilience, with expansion across multiple sectors helping to meet domestic labour demand and align with long-term development strategies.
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