Over 650,000 Cambodian Returnees from Thailand Find Jobs

Over 650,000 Cambodian Returnees from Thailand Find Jobs

PHNOM PENH, March 25, 2026 — More than 650,000 Cambodian migrant workers who returned from Thailand have secured employment, as the government ramps up efforts to absorb a large influx of returnees following border tensions last year, officials said.

Labour Ministry spokesman Sun Mesa said over 950,000 Cambodians have returned from Thailand since 2025, including around 800,000 former migrant workers, of whom more than 650,000 have found jobs.

Of those employed, about 330,000 are working in the formal sector, while more than 320,000 have taken up informal employment, he said.

The returns followed border-related disruptions between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025, prompting a large-scale movement of workers back to Cambodia.

To address the surge, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has launched a range of initiatives, including more than 600 job forums and over 1,000 mobile job fairs, aimed at connecting workers with employers and promoting vocational training and social protection schemes.

The programmes have focused on provinces with large numbers of returnees, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat and Siem Reap, where companies and factories have been mobilised to recruit workers.

Union leader Som Suon said the government’s response had been timely and effective, helping returning workers regain income and stability.

Many returnees have found employment in the garment sector, where employers have absorbed large numbers of workers despite limited prior experience, he added.

Officials say the continued promotion of job opportunities is aimed at ensuring sustainable livelihoods and easing economic pressure on returning migrant workers.