Cambodian workforce exceeds two million

Employment in the Cambodian footwear sector has grown to almost 190,000.

Cambodia’s labour force grew to over two million during October, according to new data from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT). This was reportedly driven largely by increased hiring in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries, which remain the country’s largest employers.

The number of workers within active companies overall has reached 2.07 million, which is up from 1.99 million in September. Female workers continue to make up the majority of the workforce in Cambodia, with more than 1.2 million women employed in October.

Total workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods sectors rose from 1.05 million in September to 1.11 million during the following month. The number of female workers making these products is said to have increased from 762,084 to 806,153, thus reinforcing the role these sectors play as the largest source of female employment in the country.

Garment factories reportedly expanded their workforce to 752,574 in October, while employment in footwear factories was boosted to 187,815 and staffing of travel goods manufacturers grew to 171,179 workers. 

“Cambodian workers are increasingly equipped with vocational and technical training that meets the labour market demand,” said MLVT spokesman Sun Mesa, “and this has encouraged more investors to establish operations in the country.”

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 4 of the December 2025 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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