Cambodia is expected to need about 45,000 additional workers in solar energy, energy efficiency and electric vehicles in the coming years, but officials and industry representatives warn that the country’s vocational training system is not yet fully prepared to meet the growing demand.
The forecast was presented by EnergyLab Asia at the Clean Energy Skills Conference, held as part of Clean Energy Week 2026 and organised in cooperation with the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training.
Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Projected additional workers | About 45,000 |
| EV technicians and engineers | About 25,000 |
| Solar construction and maintenance | About 12,000 |
| Energy efficiency services | About 8,000 |
| Key sectors | Electric vehicles, solar energy, energy efficiency |
| Main skills barriers | Limited hands-on training, lack of standardised certifications, outdated curricula |
| Skills Development Fund trainees supported | About 101,000 people as of September 2026 |
| Training costs supported | About $51 million |
| Industry/provider contribution | 46% of training costs |
| Enterprise productivity gains | 89% reported gains |
| Enterprise return on investment | 86% reported a return on investment |
| Clean Energy Week 2026 | Runs through September 21 |
| Theme | “Clean Energy for Energy Security and Economic Resilience” |
Cambodia’s Clean Energy Transition Creates New Jobs
EnergyLab Asia regional director Natharoun Ngo Son said the projected demand for 45,000 additional workers is linked to Cambodia’s clean energy ambitions, including its target of reaching 70% renewable power capacity by 2030 and the continued growth of electric vehicles.
The workforce requirement is concentrated in three major areas.
| Sector | Estimated Additional Workers |
|---|---|
| Electric vehicle technicians and engineers | 25,000 |
| Solar construction and maintenance | 12,000 |
| Energy efficiency services | 8,000 |
| Total | 45,000 |
The figures show that the EV sector could account for more than half of the projected additional workforce requirement, while solar development and energy efficiency will also require substantial numbers of skilled workers.
Training System Faces Industry Skills Gap
An assessment conducted by EnergyLab Asia and Sevea identified several barriers that could limit Cambodia’s ability to supply workers for the expanding clean energy economy.
These include a lack of standardised certification, insufficient hands-on training and curricula that are not keeping pace with changing industry requirements.
The issue is particularly important for technical occupations, where employers require workers to demonstrate practical capabilities in addition to formal qualifications.
Labour Minister Heng Sour described the clean energy transition as both a technological change and a major shift in skills and labour markets.
He said training institutions need to evolve alongside technological innovation, while qualifications must gain the confidence of employers.
Skills Development Fund Expands Training Support
The Skills Development Fund has already supported training at significant scale.
CEO Ky Sokkim said the fund had supported approximately 101,000 people as of September 2026, with industry and training providers contributing 46% of the $51 million in associated training costs.
A third-party assessment found that 89% of participating enterprises reported productivity improvements, while 86% reported a return on investment from the training.
These figures indicate the potential economic value of stronger links between vocational training and employer requirements.
Government, Industry and Training Providers Need Closer Cooperation
Bridget Collier, deputy head of mission at the Australian Embassy, said skills shortages have repeatedly been identified in clean energy studies.
She stressed that addressing the shortage will require closer cooperation between government agencies, businesses and training institutions.
Australia has supported vocational education and training in Cambodia and earlier this year helped establish the Automotive Centre of Excellence with Bendigo Kangan Institute and RMA Group.
The centre is intended to help prepare workers for the growing electric vehicle sector.
New Clean Energy Skills Programmes
The Liechtenstein Development Service is also supporting efforts to build Cambodia’s clean energy workforce.
LED country coordinator Leakhena Saroeurn said its three-year “Building a Clean Energy Skills Ecosystem for Cambodia” project has supported the development of solar trainers in cooperation with WWF and energy manager training at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.
The initiatives are designed to strengthen training capacity while helping education and training providers respond more closely to emerging clean energy occupations.
Why the 45,000-Worker Demand Matters?
Cambodia’s clean energy transition is creating demand not only for investment and infrastructure, but also for specialised human resources.
The projected 25,000 EV-related positions highlight how the expansion of electric mobility could create a new technical labour market covering vehicle maintenance, electrical systems and related engineering roles.
Meanwhile, the estimated 12,000 workers required for solar construction and maintenance reflects the need for skilled personnel throughout the renewable energy value chain.
Energy efficiency is expected to require another 8,000 workers, showing that Cambodia’s clean energy workforce will extend beyond electricity generation and electric vehicles.
Angkor Times Analysis
The 45,000-worker projection highlights a key challenge in Cambodia’s clean energy transition: investment in technology needs to be matched by investment in people. Solar projects, EV adoption and energy efficiency programmes can expand only if companies can access workers with the practical and technical skills required to operate and maintain them.
The training gap also suggests that vocational education will need stronger links with employers. Standardised certifications, practical training and regularly updated curricula could help narrow the distance between what training institutions teach and what clean energy businesses require. The existing Skills Development Fund results, including reported productivity gains and returns on investment, provide evidence that employer-linked training can have measurable business benefits.
FAQs
How many clean energy workers will Cambodia need?
EnergyLab Asia estimates that Cambodia will need about 45,000 additional workers in electric vehicles, solar energy and energy efficiency in the coming years.
Which sector will require the most workers?
The electric vehicle sector is projected to require about 25,000 technicians and engineers, the largest share of the projected demand.
How many workers will solar energy require?
About 12,000 additional workers are projected to be needed for solar construction and maintenance.
How many workers are needed for energy efficiency?
EnergyLab Asia estimates that approximately 8,000 workers will be needed for energy efficiency services.
What are the main barriers to clean energy skills development?
The assessment identified a lack of standardised certifications, limited hands-on training and curricula that are not keeping pace with industry needs.
How many people has the Skills Development Fund supported?
The Skills Development Fund had supported about 101,000 people as of September 2026, according to CEO Ky Sokkim.
What is Cambodia’s renewable energy target?
The projection presented at the conference is linked to Cambodia’s target of reaching 70% renewable power capacity by 2030.
When does Clean Energy Week 2026 run?
Clean Energy Week 2026 runs through September 21, under the theme “Clean Energy for Energy Security and Economic Resilience.”