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1

Acknowledgment

“Cambodia Job Outlook 2018” is the first report on occupational projection and also a part of the

labour market forecast of National Employment Agency (NEA). The report outlines employment

trends and comprehensive descriptions of job opportunities for different occupations in Cambodia in

2018.

This report is produced under the technical support of the Swedish International Development

Cooperation (SIDA). NEA expresses our sincere gratitude to Mr. Lars-AkeSvensson, the Project

Director of SIDA Project “Support Skills Development and Employment for Youth in Cambodia”,

for his initiative and support of the study. In addition, we offer our gratitude and special thanks to

technical staff at Arbetsformedlingen, the Swedish Public Employment Service, who provide

invaluable advice on designing questionnaires, developing the list of occupations, analysing and

making relevant suggestions to improve the report. For this, we express our most sincere thanks to

Mr. TorbjornIsraelsson and Mr. Jens Sandahl, Labour Market Specialists. We appreciate their

expertise and dedication in enhancing the quality of report.

This study was made possible by the initiative and technical support of H.E. Dr. HONG Choeun, the

Head of NEA. At the same time, we address our thanks to Mr. TOUCH Sophat, Chief of Information

Collection and Dissemination (ICD), and Mr. Phoung Sam Ath, Deputy Chief of ICD for their helps

and supports throughout the course of the survey, particularly during the running of the field work.

We also wish to thank Dr. HAY Hunleng, Deputy Head of NEA, for his time reviewing and providing

feedback. We thank Mrs. LY Vouch Cheng, Deputy Head of NEA; Mr. KIM Keoreaksmey, Deputy

Head of NEA; and Mrs. Dy Chang Kolney, Chief of the Planning and Cooperation Unit of NEA for

their cooperation and administrative supports during the survey process. We offer our thanks to all

Directors of Job Center of NEA for their value time and their supports to realise this study.

For conducting this research, particularly for the work in data cleaning, coding, tabulation, analysing,

and report writing, we acknowledge NEA’s research team members: Mr. KUOCH Somean, Deputy

Head of NEA; Mr. KY Sereyvuth, Advisor of NEA; Ms. LY Reasey, and Ms. UNG Channeary,

NEA’s officials.

Finally, we offer our thanks to all contacted establishments for their generous cooperation and

agreement to be interviewed, as well as their valued time answering our questions. We also thank

NEA staffs whose names have not been mentioned here, but have shared time, supported and

contributed to this report.

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Table of Contents

Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 3

I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3 II. General Labour Market Situation in 2018 .................................................................................... 5 III. Areas of professions that have good job opportunities ................................................................ 6

Accommodation and Restaurant ............................................................................................ 8 Administration, Economics, Finance and Law ...................................................................... 8 Building and Construction ..................................................................................................... 9 Computer, IT and Multimedia ............................................................................................. 10 Education, and Vocational Training .................................................................................... 11 Healthcare ............................................................................................................................ 12 Installation, Operation and Maintenance ............................................................................. 13 Production Work .................................................................................................................. 13 Sales, Purchasing and Marketing ......................................................................................... 14 Technical and Scientific Works ........................................................................................... 15 Transportation ...................................................................................................................... 16 Other Occupations ............................................................................................................... 16

IV. Lack of skilled labour leads to better job opportunities ............................................................. 17

Appendix .......................................................................................................................................... 19

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Summary

The Cambodian labour market continues to develop at a good pace. By 2018, about 200 thousand

jobs are expected to be created across many professions. The strongest job growth is expected to be

in textile, wearing apparel, and footwear; hotels and restaurants; trade; construction; finance;

transportation and communications; and real estate and business sectors. At the same time, job

opportunities are expected to be limited in agriculture; wood, paper and publishing; and food and

beverage sectors. By professions, good job opportunities are expected to be in the area of computer,

information technology and multimedia. Simultaneously, in the areas of technical and scientific

works; installation, operation, and maintenance; building and construction; production work;

education and vocational training; accommodation and restaurant; and transportation, the labour

market is expected to be balanced between supply and demand of applicants. For healthcare related

works, the labour market is expected to be the least favorable opportunity for work, while, in the areas

of administration, economics and law, sales, purchasing and marketing, it is expected to have a strong

competition for the jobs. When it comes to skills that employers are looking for, the top skills are

foreign language, technical or practical, customer handing, oral communication, problem solving,

and team work skills. A jobseeker who does not possess such skills demanded by employers will find

it particularly difficult to get a job. Whereas, improving skills that employers are looking for will

increase the possibility to get the job.

I. Introduction

The report on “Cambodia Job Outlook 2018” is a part of the labour market forecast of the National

Employment Agency (NEA). The report outlines employment trends and opportunities for work in

different occupations in Cambodia in 2018. The findings of this report are based on two perspectives.

On one hand, the current situation of recruitment is reflected by NEA’s job outlook index, which is

based on Swedish Occupational Barometer Model. On the other hand, the forecast employment growth

for different sectors, occupations and educational levels is reflected by NEA’s analysis on

macroeconomics data from 1993-2019 and the employment past trends from 1993-2014.

Firstly, before making the assessment on the possibility to get a job for different occupations, the list

of occupations consisting of 131 occupations within 11 areas of professions dominating in

Cambodian labour market was developed. This list was developed based on job vacancy data

collected by NEA from 2010-2017 and Cambodia Social Economics Survey data (CSES) in 2014, as

well as the consultation with experts and professionals. In addition to this, this list was followed the

International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) to allow for international

comparison, as well as to develop the long term occupational assessment.

In order to illustrate the possibility to get a job for different occupations, NEA uses a job outlook

index, which was built based on Swedish Occupational Barometer Model. This index is a weighted

average of the assessments done by the human resource managers or persons in charge of personnel

of around 1,000 establishments nation-wide covering 10 important sectors1, and by job centers of

NEA in 11 provinces2over a one-year term. Thus, the assessments are based on both employers'

experiences and expectation of recruitment needs, and the knowledge gained from the daily activities

1These 10 sectors are: Accommodation; Construction; Education; Food and Beverage; Health, Logistics,

Warehousing and Transportation; finance and insurance; ICT; Garment, Footwear and Apparel; and Rubber

and Plastics. 2These 11 Job centers located in: Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampot, Kampong Cham, SvayRieng,

Takeo, Prey Veng, Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, and Preah Sihanouk.

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of all job centers in matching the availability of jobseekers to the job vacancies. The assessment was

made on the following scale: 1 = very easy to recruit, 2 = easy to recruit,3 = normal (there is a balance

between supply and demand of applicants), 4 = very difficult to recruit, and 5 = very difficult to

recruit. An assessment of very easy or easy to recruit (the value of 1 or 2) indicating that it is very

tough to compete for a job as a jobseeker because there is more pronounced surplus of qualified

jobseekers. Likewise, an assessment of very difficult or difficult to recruit indicates little or very little

competition for a job.

In order to simplify the interpretation of the job outlook index for each occupation, the index value is

classified as follows: If the value is below 2.8, it indicates fewer opportunities to get a job for a

particular occupation. If it is between 2.8 and 3.2, it indicates medium opportunity where there is a

balance between supply and demand of applicants, and if it is more than 3.2, it means good

opportunity. Therefore, the average job outlook index illustrates, on one hand, the expected current

recruitment situation for an employer to recruit employees for a particular occupation; on the other

hand, the expected opportunity for work as a jobseeker in the same occupation. Overall, the higher

the job outlook index, the better the opportunity for work available to a jobseeker.

It should be emphasized that minor differences in the job outlook index between different occupations

should always be interpreted with caution. In addition, it should be emphasized that the NEA's job

outlook index represents the general situation of labour market as a whole and there are generally

differences in the labour market situation for persons with or without work experience, and different

locations (urban or rural) in the reported occupations.

In addition to this, the employment growth for different sectors, occupations and educational levels is

forecasted using macroeconomic data, which were compiled and forecasted by the Ministry of

Economic and Finance (MEF) from 1993-2019 and employment data, which was estimated from CSES

data from 1993-2014. This information forms the basis of the assessment of employment development

in the coming year.

Overall, the intention of report is to provide a broad picture of labour market developments from

professional perspectives. This information will become very important inputs for education and

vocational training providers to develop or update their curriculums to be more responsive to the

labour demand as well as for public employment services provider (NEA) to inform and guide

students to make better career choices.

In order to provide structural and concise information, this report is organised into four parts. This

introductory section presents the objectives and methodology of the study. The following part 2

focuses on Cambodian labour market outlook in 2018. The part 3 discusses the job outlook of 131

occupations. Last but not least, the last part focuses on the skills that jobseekers need to improve to

be better prepare for the labour market.

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II. General Labour Market Situation in 2018

About 200 thousand jobs are expected to be created in 2018; there is an increase of 2.2% compared

with the previous year, based on NEA’s estimation. The increase will affect most professions across

different economics activities. In total, about 9 million people are employed in 2018. Strongest job

growth is expected in textile, wearing apparel and footwear, hotels and restaurants, trade,

construction, finance, transportation and communications, real estate and business. At the same time,

job opportunities are more limited in agriculture, wood paper and publishing and food and beverage

sectors. The labour market has strongly developed in connection to the continued growth of the

economy, as well the positive growth of working age population and the improvement of its

educational attainment.

The strong growth of new jobs has also resulted in a very large number of recruitments. In 2017

around 70 thousand jobs opening were collected and posted by NEA in the labour market, which is

similar to the number in 2016. In 2018, the number of recruitments in the labour market is expected

to be high. As a jobseeker, it is important to take advantage of these opportunities by being active in

making applications. An active jobseeker in a wide range of professions across sectors has high

opportunity to find a job more quickly. The continued strong growth in employment means a broad

growth of new jobs from professional perspectives for this year. By 2018, jobs are expected to

continue to grow strongly within unskilled workers, low skilled worker (craft workers), sales and

services workers, clerks, plan and machine operators, and technicians.

The expansion on the demand of unskilled workers is expected to generate the occupational shift-

share within the agricultural sector from peasant to unskilled workers, which is a continuous trend

observed for a number of years across sectors. In addition, we also observe that the increase of this

group of unskilled occupations is also driven by the expected strong performance of the trade,

transportation and communication, utilities, and hotels and restaurants. In contrast, we observe the

unskilled occupation is also expected to contract in the garment sector.

Driven by the expected growth of service sectors (which includes trade, hotels and restaurants, real

estate and business consultation, and finance), the overall number of sale and service workers is

expected to exceed its previous level in 2017. However, this occupation is expected to register a

negative employment growth rate in all agricultural sub sectors, some industrial sub sectors (which

includes utilities, food and beverage, and wood) and in other services sectors, whose total

employment is expected to decline.

Driven by the expected expansion of industrial sectors (including garment, construction, and other

manufacturing), the level of employment of lower skilled workers (craft and related trade workers)

is expected to expand. Furthermore, this occupation is expected to emerge rapidly in mining and

rubber sectors.

The number of clerk workers has significantly increased during the last decade and is projected to

maintain its trend in 2018. The expansion of employment in this occupation is expected to be

generated in public administrative, other services, finance, and real estate and business.

At the same time, plant and machine operator is also expected to have a positive growth in 2018

driven primarily by the significant increase in the transportation and communication, garment, other

manufacturing, food and beverage, and construction sectors.

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The number of the technician or associated professional is expected to increase driven by the

expanding sectors such as trade, hotels and restaurants, construction, and rubber. However, this is

more likely to be offset by the contraction in demand of other services sector and crops sector.

The most significant decline in absolute and relative terms are expected for agricultural occupation

(mostly peasant). This is a continuous trend which is observed over the last decade due to declining

competitiveness of this sector and is typically reflected by the substantial decrease in agricultural

share to GDP in the whole economy.

The employment level of professionals is also expected to slightly decrease in 2018. The reduction

of employment in this occupation can be explained by the significant decline in the other services

sector; it is likely not to compensate for the positive growth in other sectors. This is likely to be

reflected by the decline in self-employed occupations. By 2018, another occupational group that is

expected to not increase in terms of employment level is the manager occupation. This occupation is

projected to contract, driven by the significant drop in public administrative and real estate and

business sector.

III. Areas of professions that have good job opportunities

In the upcoming year, the job opportunities are good or balanced between demand and supply in 8

among 11 major areas of professions. A good opportunity for work is expected to be in the areas of

computer, information technology and multimedia. In the area of technical and scientific work;

installation, operation, and maintenance; building and construction; production work; education and

vocational training; accommodation and restaurant; and transport, the labour market is expected be

in balance between supply and demand of applicants. For healthcare jobs, the labour market is

expected to be the fewer opportunities for work, while, in the areas of administration, economics and

law as well as sales, purchasing and marketing, it is expected to be tough to compete for a job.

However, it is also important to note that there are also specific occupations in these areas of

professions where competition for vacant jobs are expected to be easy.

Figure 1: Job outlook index by professions in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

0 1 2 3 4 5

Administration, Economics, Finance and Law

Sales, Purchasing and Marketing

Healthcare

Transport

Accommodation and Restaurant

Education and Vocational Training

Production Work

Building and Construction

Installation, Operation and Maintenance

Technical and Scientific Work

Computer, Information Technology and Multimedia

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Below is a summary of the specific occupations with the greatest or lowest job outlook index. The

summary is categorized according to the professions' qualification level aligned with the International

Standard of Classification of Occupational (ISCO-08) and International Standard Classification of

Educational level (ISCED-1997)

Occupations at upper secondary level, whose recruitment situations are very difficult or

least competition for work (the greatest job outlook index) in 2018

Radiographers ICT operations technicians

Translators and interpreters Clearing and forwarding agents

ICT user support technicians Graphic and multimedia designers

Industrial and production engineers Mechanical engineers

Telecommunications engineers Process control technicians

Chemical engineers Database and network professionals

System analysts and IT architects Electronics engineering technicians

Software and system developers Product and garment designers

Construction supervisors Information technology trainers

Chefs Computer network and systems technicians

Occupation at upper secondary level, whose recruitment situations are very easy or hardest

competition for jobs (the lowest job outlook index) in 2018

Medical and pathology laboratory technicians Dental assistants

Administrative and executive secretaries Midwifery associate professionals

University and higher education teachers Accounting associate professionals

ICT sales Accountants

Office supervisors Advertising and marketing professionals

Occupations in other education levels, whose recruitment situations are very difficult or

least competition for work (the greatest job outlook index) in 2018

Steam engine and boiler operators Bakers, pastry-cooks and confectionery makers

Glaziers Machinery mechanics and repairers

Vehicle, window, laundry and other hand

cleaning workers

Wood treaters, cabinet-makers and related

trades workers

Plumbers and pipe fitters Painters and related workers

Mechanical machinery assemblers Woodworkers, carpenters and joiner

Electrical mechanics and fitters Heavy truck and lorry drivers

Companions and valets Domestic, hotel and office cleaners and helpers

Welders and flame cutters Building construction labourers

Occupations in other education levels, whose recruitment situations are very easy or hardest

competition for jobs (the lowest job outlook index) in 2018

Contact centre salespersons Personnel clerks or HR assistant

General office clerks Sales demonstrators

Bank tellers and bank clerks Accounting and bookkeeping clerks

Contact centre information clerks Shop salespersons

Receptionists (general) Production clerks

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Accommodation and Restaurant

The continued favorable global and domestic economic climate contribute to a higher demand in the

tourism sector. This sector is estimated to have a growth rate of 5.2% in 2017 and is expected to

continue its growth by 5.0% in 2018; therefore, employment in these sectors is expected to increase

in 2018.The total employment in this sector is expected to rise from about 437 thousand employees

in 2017 to about 486 thousand in 2018, according to NEA’s forecast. overall, job opportunities for

this area will be good in the coming year.

The best job opportunity is for chefs where competition for work is very small. Even for companions

and valets, the job opportunities are expected to be good. For cleaning and housekeeping; bartenders;

hotel managers; cleaners and helpers; cooks; waiters; and fast food preparers, the labour market is

expected to be in balance. This means that there will be as many jobs as there are people who can

work in these occupations. The job outlook index for restaurant managers is bordering between

balance and hard competition for the job. Kitchen helpers and hotel receptionists are the only

occupations, in which it is difficult to compete for a job. This is due, among other things, to the fact

that in these occupations there are usually no special requirements for education, and there are many

applicants for each job vacancy.

Figure 2: Job outlook index in areas of accommodation and restaurant in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Administration, Economics, Finance and Law

Administration, Economics and Law are professions that consist of several different occupations with

widely different skills requirements. For some, educational requirements are high; while for others, it

is sufficient for upper secondary education. However, education requirements have gradually increased

and about one out of two jobs in these professions requires postgraduate education.

In the coming year, employment in administration, economics, finance and law are expected to increase.

This positive development is linked to the continued strong economic growth, which means that the

demand for personnel working in the various sectors of this area is increasing. However, in terms of job

opportunities, it is expected to be tough to compete for a job due to the greatest labour surplus in this field.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Hotel receptionists

Kitchen helpers

Restaurant managers

Fast food preparers

Waiters

Cooks

Cleaners and helpers

Hotel managers

Bartenders

Cleaning and housekeeping

Companions and valets

Chefs

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Lawyers or legal advisors, and advertising and public relation managers are expected to have the

medium job opportunities in the labour market. This means that there will be about as many jobs as

there are people who can work in these occupations. At the same time, financial analysts, payroll

clerks, finance managers, human resource managers, financial and insurance services branch

managers, and personnel and HR specialists are in the least good job opportunities and fierce

competition. In addition, for accountants, accounting and bookkeeping clerks, accounting associate

professionals, personal clerks or HR assistants, office supervisors, receptionists (general), contact

centre information clerks, administrative or executive secretaries and general office clerks, it is

expected to be very hard to compete for a job. These occupations require at least uppers secondary

education and are popular fields to study.

Figure 3: Job outlook index in areas of administration, economics, finance and law in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Building and Construction

Demand for construction workers is closely linked to the development of construction sector. Based

on the forecasting of Ministry of Economic and Finance, this sector had a strong growth of 14.4% in

2017, and is expected to maintain its two digits growth rate by 12.7% in 2018. Employment in this

sector is, therefore, expected to increase over the next year from 678 thousand in 2017 to 718 thousand

in 2018, according to the forecast of NEA. However, the recruitment situation in the area has been

difficult in the past, and employers have been having trouble recruiting skilled and experienced

labour. Around 40% of the employers in this sector reported that they have difficulties to fill vacancies

in 2017, and about 20% of hard to fill vacancies are caused by lack of skills, lack of qualifications or

experiences of job seekers.

Over the next coming year, the average job outlook index for occupations within this area of

profession that NEA assesses is among the highest in all professions. The job opportunities for both

engineers, trade workers and casual workers are, therefore, good or very good. Specifically, most of

0 1 2 3 4 5

General office clerks

Administrative and executive secretaries

Contact centre information clerks

Receptionists (general)

Office supervisors

Personnel clerks or HR assisstant

Accounting associate professionals

Accounting and bookkeeping clerks

Accountants

Personnel and HR Specialists

Financial and insurance services branch managers

Human resource managers

Finance managers

Payroll clerks

Financial analysts

Advertising and public relations managers

Lawyers or legal advisor

10

the best are job opportunities of the glaziers, and plumbers and pipe fitters. Construction supervisors,

wood treaters, cabinet-makers and related trades workers face a very good labour market and thus

very little competition for a job.

The strong construction boom has also positively affected the labour market for the other skilled trade

workers, in which the demand for these occupational groups has increased as the business cycle

further strengthened. The labour market for woodworkers, carpenters and joiner; painters and related

workers; building construction labourers; concrete workers; building and related electricians; and

plasterers are described as balance between the demand for workers and the availability of jobseekers.

In addition, civil engineering technicians, civil engineers, bricklayers, building architects, and roofers

are also expected to have medium opportunities to work. However, within this sector, flooring

workers are expected to be tough to compete for jobs. However, in order to easily get the jobs in the

occupations within the field of construction, requires a vocational and technical certificate.

Figure 4: Job outlook index in areas of building and construction in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Computer, IT and Multimedia

IT professionals are becoming increasingly important in the labour market as digitalization increases

and IT skills are demanded throughout the labour market. In particular, IT skills are strongly required

not only in the ICT sector itself, but also in financial and business services, manufacturing, commerce

and public services. Job growth in this occupational area remains strong and the number of employed

is expected to increase strongly in 2018. For all occupations in the area, job opportunities are judged

to be balanced or good in the coming year. This means that the opportunities for work will be good

even for new graduates. Geographical disparities, for instance, between Phnom Penh and other

provinces, may also affect job opportunities for some professions.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Flooring

Roofers

Building architects

Bricklayer

Civil engineers

Civil engineering technicians

Plasterers

Building and related electricians

Concrete worker

Building construction labourers

Painters and related workers

Woodworkers, carpenters and joiner

Wood treaters, cabinet-makers and related trades workers

Construction supervisors

Plumbers and pipe fitters

Glaziers

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It is still expected to be very little competition, or very good job opportunities, within the occupations

where education and experience requirements are high particularly for ICT user support technicians,

software and system developers, system analysts and IT architects, graphic and multimedia designers,

ICT operation technicians. However, in order to work in these occupations, requires solid knowledge and

experiences in software and system development. As in the past, the shortcoming of skilled and

experienced workforce is relatively narrow knowledge in specific programming languages or tools.

At the same time, computer network and system technicians, database and network professional are

expected to have good job opportunities in the coming year. Web and multimedia developers, and

web technicians are also expected to have medium opportunities. However, employers often find it

difficult to recruit the right people with the desired skills as the skills requirements in the field of

employment are high and mostly postgraduate degree.

Figure 5: Job outlook index in areas of computer, IT and multimedia in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Education, and Vocational Training

Educational and vocational works are one of the major professions that employ around 131 thousand

people, and the teaching staff represents about 81.3% of the total employed people (based on the

annual report of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and annual report of Ministry of Labour and

Vocational Training). There are currently about 106 thousand teachers, among which approximately

43.4% who teach in primary, 27.1% in lower secondary, 11.9% in upper secondary, 7.8 in higher

education institutions, 5.2% in TVET institutions and 4.6% in preschools. Many of the jobs are in

public sector, and about one out of two who work in the field are women. Most of occupations within

this profession require post-secondary education. Demand for teaching staff is largely driven by the

number of people in the school age between 6 to 24 years. School age population has more than

doubled, steadily increasing from just 3.1 million in 1980 to its highest level of 6.3 million in 2005,

and it has then started to decline but it is still in large number of 6 million in 2018.

The NEA's assessment is that the number of people employed in the field of education and vocational

training is increasing in 2018. Overall, job opportunities are good or balanced for both professionals

and graduates. The need of teachers has increased for a long time thanks to an increase in the school

age population, particular for primary education and secondary education. In addition, there is an

0 1 2 3 4 5

Web technicians

Web and multimedia developers

Database and network professionals

Computer network and systems technicians

ICT operations technicians

Graphic and multimedia designers

System analysts and IT architects

Software and system developers

ICT user support technicians

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increased need for adult education. However, the availability of teachers is still limited, particularly

in the field of technical and vocational training. According to NEA’ job outlook index, the

opportunities to work as university and higher education teachers will be tough in the coming year.

Figure 6: Job outlook index in areas of education, and vocational training in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Healthcare

Women dominate most professions in this field of employment and many of the jobs are in the public

sector. The growing population, in particular the number of elders, is the main cause of the increased

demand in health care. The number of people working in this field has been increasing for a long

time, and the assessment is that this trend will continue to increase in 2018. However, the increase is

limited by recruitment difficulties, as few have been trained in the area over a long period of time.

Overall, for the whole profession, the opportunities for work are close to the balance between the

number of jobseekers and the available job vacancies. Many professions in the field are required to

have post-secondary education and it takes a long time to graduate in this field.

Figure 7: Job outlook index in areas of healthcare in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

In term of employment prospects in 2018, radiographers have very good opportunities for work and

at the same time medical doctors, pharmacists, midwifery professionals are in medium opportunities.

Dentists and nursing professionals are close to the boundary between balance and hard competition

about the job, in which there are still possibilities to get the jobs within these occupations. However,

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

University and higher education teachers

Secondary education teachers

Other language teachers

Vocational education teachers

Primary school and early childhood teachers

Information technology trainers

0 1 2 3 4 5

Medical and pathology laboratory technicians

Dental assistants

Midwifery associate professionals

Nursing associate professionals

Nursing professionals

Dentists

Midwifery professionals

Pharmacists

Medical doctors

Radiographers

13

0 1 2 3 4 5

Electrical engineering technicians

Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics

Electrical line installers and repairers

Machinery mechanics and repairers

Process control technicians

Electrical mechanics and fitters

for nursing associate professionals, dental assistants, and medical and pathology laboratory

technicians it will be tough to compete for jobs in the coming year.

Installation, Operation and Maintenance

For the profession in this area as a whole, opportunities for work are considered to be good for the

coming year and the number of employed people is expected to increase because the labour demand

in this profession has a strong link to the development in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

The workers in the field of installation, operation and maintenance normally require to have studied

a vocational program at pre- or post-upper secondary school.

For this area of profession, electrical mechanics and fitters and process control technicians have good

opportunities for work in the coming year. Even machinery mechanics and repairers are considered

to have good opportunities for work. This is largely due to the fact that there are few people who

enroll in vocational program at upper secondary school or post upper secondary school relevant to

this area of skills such as the electricity and machinery program. For electrical line installers and

repairers, and air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, medium job opportunities are expected.

At the same time, electrical engineering technicians are also expected to have a balance in labour

market too. Overall, getting the technical and vocational certificate relevant to this area of profession

improves the job opportunities for applicants.

Figure 8: Job outlook index in areas of installation, operation and maintenance in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Production Works

NEA maps fifty different occupations within this profession. One among four of all occupations in this

profession are estimated to be good opportunities for work in the coming year. Only two occupations

within this profession are expected to be hard to compete for the job. Overall, the number of employed

people is expected to increase strongly in 2018 due to the expansion of manufacturing activities, and in

terms of job opportunities, it is estimated to be balanced for the next year, in which there will be as

many jobs as there are people who can work in these occupations.

Steam engine and boiler operators, mechanical machinery assemblers, welders and flame cutters, and

bakers, pastry-cook, and confectionery makers have good opportunities for work. Packing, bottling

and labelling machine operators; agricultural technicians; manufacturing supervisors; textile, fur,

laundry and leather products machine operators; earthmoving and related plant operators; electrical

and electronic equipment assemblers; rubber, plastics and paper products machine operators are

expected to meet a labour market in balance. The garment, footwear, textile, and related trade

workers; and hand packers are within the border of the least favorable and medium job opportunities.

For manufacturing labourers, as well as production clerks, competition for jobs is hard.

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0 1 2 3 4 5

Production clerks

Manufacturing labourers

Hand packers

Garment, footwear, textile and related trades workers

Rubber, plastic and paper products machine operators

Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers

Earthmoving and related plant operators

Textile, fur, laundry and leather products machine operators

Manufacturing supervisors

Agricultural technicians (Dairy, Field Crop, Poultry Technician…)

Packing, bottling and labelling machine operators

Bakers, pastry-cooks and confectionery makers

Welders and flame cutters

Mechanical machinery assemblers

Steam engine and boiler operators

Figure 9: Job outlook index in areas of production works in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Sales, Purchasing and Marketing

The labour market situation for most of the occupations in the area is affected either by private

consumption or by the development of companies targeting other companies. Private consumption is

expected to develop at a good pace, and the general economy is expected to remain strong, which means

that demand for labour becomes good. However, the labour market for this area is expected to have

fierce competition for jobs. In the occupations, which are hard to compete for jobs, usually require a

minimum educational background and this is a first entry occupation to the labour market especially

for the least educated jobseekers. In addition, there are numbers of relatively popular occupations in

this area that many jobseekers are expected to face an increase in competition for the vacancies.

Over the next year, clearing and forwarding agents are expected to have good job opportunities. Strong

experience and knowledge related to the logistic and clearing process are highly demanded. Real estate

agents and property managers, street food sales persons, and buyers or procurement officers are

expected to be in balanced, in which there will be as many jobs as there are people who can work in

these occupations. In addition, the job outlook index for public relations professionals, commercial sale

representatives, sale and marketing managers, and cashiers and ticket clerks are close to the border

between balanced and hard competition for the job. This means that, even though the labour market

situation for this profession is tough for jobseekers, there are still possibilities to get the jobs.

In this area of profession, there are also several occupations where competition for work is hard for the

next year. This applies to contact centre salespersons, bank tellers and bank clerks, ICT salespersons,

sale demonstrators, shop salespersons, advertisement and marketing officers, credit and loan officers,

shop supervisors, and stall and market salespersons.

15

Figure 10: Job outlook index in areas of sales, purchasing and marketing in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Technical and Scientific Works

In the field of technical and scientific works, ten different occupations are mapped by NEA. This

profession is characterized by having the highest proportion of occupations with highly advanced

education. Thus, a common required educational background in the field is technical and vocational

education or university level. The occupations within this profession are also characterized by the

little or very little competition for jobs. This is true not only for those who have a lot of experience,

but also for new graduates. Overall, job opportunities are estimated to be good and the number of

employed is expected to increase in 2018 due to the expansion of industrial activities.

Figure 11: Job outlook index in areas of technical and scientific works in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

0 1 2 3 4 5

Contact centre salespersons

Bank tellers and bank clerks

ICT salesperson

Sales demonstrators

Shop salespersons

Advertising and marketing officers

Credit and loans officers

Shop Supervisor

Stall and market salespersons

Public relations professionals

Commercial sales representatives

Sales and marketing managers

Cashiers and ticket clerks

Buyers or procurement officer

Street food salespersons

Real estate agents and property managers

Clearing and forwarding agents

0 1 2 3 4 5

Electronics engineers

Mechanical engineering technicians

Chemical engineering technicians

Electrical engineers

Electronics engineering technicians

Product and garment designers

Mechanical engineers

Chemical engineers

Industrial and production engineers

Telecommunications engineers

16

Telecommunication engineers, industrial and production engineers, and chemical engineers are

generally highly sought after in the labour market. Even mechanical engineers are expected to have

good opportunities for work. Product and garment designers, and electronic engineering technicians

are also expected to have good job opportunities, but in the border area of balanced opportunities for

work. However, electrical engineers and chemical engineering technicians are expected to be in a

balanced labour market, where the demand for labour equals the supply. At the same time, the

balanced opportunities for work are also expected for mechanical engineering technicians and

electronics engineers.

Transportation

Transportation sector is also linked closely with the expansion of economics activities. For instance, the

expansion in industry, construction, commerce, hotels and restaurants contribute to the increased demand

for freight transport. Regarding the transportation of passenger, the increase of population and the

improvement of households’ income contribute significantly to the increase of demand for different types

of travel. In terms of job opportunities as a whole, it is expected to be at the boundary between balanced

and the least good because most occupations within this profession there are usually no special

requirements for education and there are many applicants for each job vacancies, but some occupations

require driving license.

For heavy truck and lorry drivers; transport clerks; car, taxi and van drivers; and transport and storage

labourers are expected to be balanced between the demand for labour and the availability of job

search. Messengers, package delivers, and luggage porters are expected to face a labour market in the

border between balanced and hard competition for work. At the same time, stock clerks, freight

handlers, and bus drivers are expected to face a tough competition for jobs.

Figure 12: Job outlook index in areas of transportation in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

Other Occupations

Vehicle, window laundry and other hand cleaning workers are estimated to be good for the coming year.

At the same time, translators and interpreters are expected to have good opportunities to work. The job

outlook index for domestic, hotel and office cleaners, and helpers; and security guards are in balance for

the job, where there will be about as many jobs as there are people who can work in these occupations.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Bus drivers

Freight handlers

Stock clerks

Messengers, package deliverers and luggage porters

Transport and storage labourers

Car, taxi and van drivers

Transport clerks

Heavy truck and lorry drivers

17

Figure 13: Job outlook index in areas of other occupations in 2018

Source: NEA, 2018

IV. Lack of skilled labour leads to better job opportunities

In parallel to the increase in the labour demand, skills shortage has also gradually increased. The lack

of skills in the labour market has risen steadily in recent years. Based on employer skills need survey

conducted by NEA in 2017, 47.9% employers stated that they experienced recruitment difficulties,

of which around 53.1% caused by low number of applicants with required skilled, lack of work

experience or qualification establishment demands. The recruitment difficulties issues are the most

pronounced in the accommodation sector, 62.8% of construction employers stated that they had

difficulty recruiting staff. It is followed by health (61.4%), education (53.0%), food and beverage

(52.1%), logistics, warehousing and transportation (52.0%), finance and insurance (51.8%). The least

affected by recruitment difficulties are followed by construction (36.7%), ICT (33.9%), garment,

footwear and apparel (33.8%), and rubber and plastics (7.3%).

Figure 14: Types of skills shortages

Source: Employer Survey, 2018

The recruitment difficulties have consequences on the labour market. It takes longer for employers to recruit which impedes employment creation by refraining employers from trying to recruit more

0 1 2 3 4 5

Security guards

Domestic, hotel and office cleaners and helpers

Translators and interpreters

Vehicle, window, laundry and other hand cleaning

workers

3.2%

5.2%

6.5%

7.1%

11.0%

13.0%

16.9%

18.8%

19.5%

26.6%

26.6%

27.3%

30.5%

34.4%

45.5%

Strategic Management skills

Literacy skills

Any other job specific skills

Numeracy skills

Written communication skills

Office admin skills

Planning and organization skills

Advanced IT or software skills

Basic computer literacy / using IT

Team working skills

Problem solving skills

Oral communication skills

Customer handing skills

Technical or practical skills

Foreign language skills

18

workers, and in some cases, it forces employers to reduce the job requirements. Around 18.6% of establishment experiencing recruitment difficulties have refrained from trying to recruit more workers, the highest proportion was found in logistics, warehousing and transportation (50.7%), followed by garment, footwear and apparel (31.3%), and health (24.3%). The sectors, where this proportion is less than average, ranked accordingly are: accommodation (15.0%), finance and insurance (13.5%), construction (12.3%), education (8.3%), ICT (6.9%), and food and beverage (2.8%). The situation has become serious in terms of vacancies. For instance, employers in logistics, warehousing and transportation and health sectors reported that they have not even tried to recruit 18.6% and 17.3% of total available vacancies due to a shortage of qualified labour or recruitment difficulty. However, from the perspective of jobseekers, the shortage of skilled labour makes it easier for new graduates and young jobseekers with less experiences to enter the labour market. When it comes to skills that employers looking for, the current report on employer skills needs survey pointed that the top skills lacking among jobseekers are foreign language, technical or practical, customer handing, oral communication, problem solving, and team work skills. Jobseekers who do not possess the skills demanded by employers will find it particularly difficult to find a job. Whereas improving skills that employers are looking for, increase the possibility to get jobs. Top skills lacking by occupational group are:

Manager Professionals Technical and associated professionals

Technical or practical skills Technical or practical skills Foreign language skills

Foreign language skills Foreign language skills Basic computer literacy / using IT

Planning and organization skills Problem solving skills Technical or practical skills

Office admin skills Advanced IT or software skills Problem solving skills

Written communication skills Team working skills Customer handing skills

Clerical support workers Service and sales workers Craft and related trades workers

Oral communication skills Foreign language skills Technical or practical skills

Customer handing skills Team working skills Foreign language skills

Foreign language skills Oral communication skills Problem solving skills

Team working skills Customer handing skills Oral communication skills

Basic computer literacy / using IT Problem solving skills Team working skills

Plant and machine operators,

and assemblers Elementary occupations

Team working skills Oral communication skills

Customer handing skills Customer handing skills

Technical or practical skills Team working skills

Any other job specific skills Foreign language skills

Basic computer literacy / using IT Source: Employer Survey, 2018

Despite good opportunities for work in very large parts of the labour market, there are a number of professions where competition for work is tough also for those with completed post-secondary education. This is especially true for some university graduates with a focus on humanities, accounting, banking, business and social sciences. However, people with college education are generally get jobs easier than those with lower education. People with lower education will still have difficulty finding jobs because the jobs created in the future will require at least primary education completed. Therefore, the public employment services have become very important in order to shift jobseekers to education that leads to work. In addition, the vocational and career guidance has an important role to guide students to education that leads to good job opportunities in the future.

19

Appendix 1: Job outlook index by occupations in 2018

Minimum Maximum

Accountants 2.4 350 654

Accounting and bookkeeping clerks 2.3 248 446

Accounting associate professionals 2.3 255 531

Administrative and executive secretaries 2.1 275 474

Advertising and marketing professionals 2.4 270 728

Advertising and public relations managers 2.8 800 1,101

Agricultural technicians (Dairy, Field Crop, Poultry Technician…) 3.1 263 400

Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics 3.1 213 355

Bakers, pastry-cooks and confectionery makers 3.3 130 200

Bank tellers and bank clerks 2.2 200 371

Bartenders 3.0 138 235

Bricklayer 3.0 193 302

Building and related electricians 3.0 263 386

Building architects 3.0 450 908

Building construction labourers 3.2 178 322

Bus drivers 2.6 188 271

Buyers or procurement officer 2.9 402 956

Car, taxi and van drivers 2.9 195 295

Cashiers and ticket clerks 2.7 143 245

Chefs 3.3 320 894

Chemical engineering technicians 3.0 346 712

Chemical engineers 3.4 325 675

Civil engineering technicians 3.0 300 624

Civil engineers 3.0 404 800

Cleaners and helpers 2.9 110 200

Cleaning and housekeeping 3.1 130 185

Clearing and forwarding agents 3.3 338 719

Commercial sales representatives 2.7 375 850

Companions and valets 3.3 110 160

Computer network and systems technicians 3.2 313 567

Concrete worker 3.1 160 281

Construction supervisors 3.4 375 680

Contact centre information clerks 2.2 190 358

Contact centre salespersons 2.0 150 281

Cooks 2.9 150 280

Credit and loans officers 2.5 200 361

Database and network professionals 3.2 333 736

Dental assistants 2.3 188 337

Dentists 2.8 350 500

Domestic, hotel and office cleaners and helpers 3.2 120 210

Earthmoving and related plant operators 3.0 152 259

Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers 2.9 203 325

Electrical engineering technicians 2.8 274 538

Electrical engineers 3.1 300 738

Electrical line installers and repairers 3.1 220 353

Occupation Index 2018Average salary (USD $)

20

Electrical line installers and repairers 3.1 220 353

Minimum Maximum

Electrical mechanics and fitters 3.4 181 331

Electronics engineering technicians 3.2 255 538

Electronics engineers 2.8 300 725

Fast food preparers 2.8 119 191

Finance managers 2.6 675 1,083

Financial analysts 2.7 375 855

Financial and insurance services branch managers 2.6 700 1,064

Flooring 2.7 231 365

Freight handlers 2.6 152 233

Garment, footwear, textile and related trades workers 2.8 165 267

General office clerks 2.1 230 409

Glaziers 3.8 248 321

Graphic and multimedia designers 3.3 288 575

Hand packers 2.8 139 219

Heavy truck and lorry drivers 3.2 200 531

Hotel managers 3.0 600 1,166

Hotel receptionists 2.6 160 277

Human resource managers 2.6 600 926

ICT operations technicians 3.3 283 555

ICT sales professionals 2.2 225 627

ICT user support technicians 3.5 282 550

Industrial and production engineers 3.5 313 700

Information technology trainers 3.2 210 558

Kitchen helpers 2.6 120 189

Lawyers or legal advisor 3.0 500 903

Machinery mechanics and repairers 3.2 200 392

Manufacturing labourers 2.7 141 236

Manufacturing supervisors 3.1 230 459

Mechanical engineering technicians 2.8 390 700

Mechanical engineers 3.3 265 717

Mechanical machinery assemblers 3.5 173 333

Medical and pathology laboratory technicians 2.1 288 459

Medical doctors 3.1 500 1,199

Messengers, package deliverers and luggage porters 2.8 151 225

Midwifery associate professionals 2.3 236 371

Midwifery professionals 2.9 263 490

Mining and mineral processing plant operators 3.0 245 342

Nursing associate professionals 2.4 233 381

Nursing professionals 2.6 251 474

Office supervisors 2.2 290 557

Other language teachers 3.0 245 521

Packing, bottling and labelling machine operators 3.1 165 302

Painters and related workers 3.2 230 343

Payroll clerks 2.7 274 466

Personnel and HR Specialists 2.6 368 681

Personnel clerks or HR assisstant 2.3 265 480

Pharmacists 3.1 288 491

Plasterers 3.0 206 334

Plumbers and pipe fitters 3.6 233 365

Occupation Index 2018Average salary (USD $)

21

Plumbers and pipe fitters 3.6 233 365

Minimum Maximum

Primary school and early childhood teachers 3.1 198 328

Process control technicians 3.3 363 1,126

Product and garment designers 3.2 325 923

Production clerks 2.5 189 333

Public relations professionals 2.7 325 919

Radiographers 3.6 370 638

Real estate agents and property managers 2.9 463 950

Receptionists (general) 2.2 185 325

Restaurant managers 2.8 413 966

Roofers 2.8 250 373

Rubber, plastic and paper products machine operators 2.9 204 293

Sales and marketing managers 2.7 400 979

Sales demonstrators 2.3 168 313

Secondary education teachers 2.9 213 387

Security guards 3.0 127 214

Shop salespersons 2.4 156 239

Shop Supervisor 2.5 231 383

Software and system developers 3.4 363 700

Stall and market salespersons 2.5 160 254

Steam engine and boiler operators 4.0 136 206

Stock clerks 2.7 200 296

Street food salespersons 2.9 145 242

System analysts and IT architects 3.4 391 788

Telecommunications engineers 3.5 350 881

Textile, fur, laundry and leather products machine operators 3.0 161 300

Translators and interpreters 3.6 300 638

Transport and storage labourers 2.8 159 252

Transport clerks 2.9 178 287

University and higher education teachers 2.7 275 746

Vehicle, window, laundry and other hand cleaning workers 3.8 158 276

Vocational education teachers 3.1 238 607

Waiters 2.9 120 180

Web and multimedia developers 3.1 369 706

Web technicians 3.0 300 575

Welders and flame cutters 3.3 161 288

Wood treaters, cabinet-makers and related trades workers 3.3 118 193

Woodworkers, carpenters and joiner 3.2 222 313

Occupation Index 2018Average salary (USD $)