Building the Clean Energy Workforce: Global Lessons for Cambodia
2026 Report
2026 Report
In Cambodia, clean energy labour demand is expanding faster than the supply of qualified workers. Driven by strong Government targets for solar power, electric vehicle adoption and energy efficiency, tens of thousands of new jobs are anticipated in these sectors by 2030. How can Cambodia supercharge its clean energy workforce to meet this demand?
EnergyLab Asia’s latest report - ‘Building the Clean Energy Workforce: Global Lessons for Cambodia’ - compares the clean energy skills ecosystems of 11 benchmark countries, from advanced economies, emerging markets, and lower-income countries, and identifies transferable lessons for Cambodia.
EnergyLab Asia’s latest report - ‘Building the Clean Energy Workforce: Global Lessons for Cambodia’ - compares the clean energy skills ecosystems of 11 benchmark countries, from advanced economies, emerging markets, and lower-income countries, and identifies transferable lessons for Cambodia.
Key findings:
Across the global clean energy skills systems analyzed, several key findings emerged:
Through the ‘Building a clean energy skills ecosystem for Cambodia’ project, funded by the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED), in 2026 EnergyLab will collaborate with clean energy companies, education providers, skills development partners and government to drive forward recommendations from this report and additional studies of skills needs and gaps in Cambodia’s EV, renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Stay tuned for more information!
- Clean energy skills systems succeed when policy, planning, and labour-market demand are tightly aligned. → In Cambodia, institutional fragmentation limits alignment and weakens workforce outcomes.
- Industry engagement and work-based learning are the strongest predictors of employment outcomes. → Cambodia’s predominantly classroom-based TVET system limits practical skill acquisition, contributing to skills mismatch.
- Prioritizing key sectors delivers faster, more visible results than broad “green skills” approaches. → Cambodia’s current approach remains dispersed across multiple green themes, diluting impact.
- Training quality matters more than quantity. → Cambodia faces a risk of expanded TVET enrollment without adequate trainer capacity, modern equipment, and quality assurance.
- Inclusive pathways for informal workers are critical in emerging clean energy markets. → Flexible training models, recognition of prior learning, and modular certification are essential to ensure that skills systems support inclusive growth.
Through the ‘Building a clean energy skills ecosystem for Cambodia’ project, funded by the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED), in 2026 EnergyLab will collaborate with clean energy companies, education providers, skills development partners and government to drive forward recommendations from this report and additional studies of skills needs and gaps in Cambodia’s EV, renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Stay tuned for more information!