Hanoi (VNA) – Cambodia should considerdeveloping industry transformation maps in key sectors to enable the transitionto the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) with adequate investment in skillsdevelopment for new and repositioned jobs, according to a new study by theAsian Development Bank (ADB).

The finding is one of six key recommendations emergingfrom ADB’s study “Reaping the Benefits of Industry 4.0 Through SkillsDevelopment in Cambodia.” It is part of a four-country study of ASEAN nationsthat also include Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The study examines the garment and tourism industries inCambodia, both of which are important for growth, employment, internationalcompetitiveness, and 4IR.

It finds that 4IR technologies will eliminate jobs in thegarments and tourism industries, but these would be offset by increase indemand arising from higher productivity, potentially generating net jobincreases of 39 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

While the government and industry are keen to promote 4IRskills, employer surveys in the two industries reveal limited understanding of4IR technologies. For example, only 28 percent and 35 percent of garmentmanufacturing and tourism employers surveyed agreed or strongly agreed whenasked whether they have a good understanding of 4IR technologies and theirrelevance to their companies.

Despite the overall positive net employment effect inboth industries, the study warns there is no guarantee that displaced workerscan seamlessly move into newly created jobs without adequate and timelyinvestments in skills development.

Job displacement is also more likely to impact women whomake up around 81 percent of the workforce in Cambodia’s garment manufacturingindustry.

ADB Country Director for Cambodia Sunniya Durrani-Jamalsaid “We must improve knowledge of 4IR technologies and their benefits, supportenterprises including small and medium enterprises to adopt advancedtechnologies, and offer support for retraining and reskilling programsincluding through tax incentives to ensure that no one is left behind.”

“As 4IR technologies spread rapidly, extensiveinvestments in digital skills will improve the chances of the young and old toaccess higher-quality jobs and lower the risk of job losses,” said ADBPrincipal Education Specialist Shanti Jagannathan. “Now is the time to rethinkdelivery of skills using virtual platforms and mobile technologies, and developagile training institutions with courses and credentials that match marketneeds”.

While the COVID-19 pandemicis accelerating digital transformation, the study finds that companiesdeploying 4IR technologies are likely to recover faster from the disruptionscaused by the pandemic and be more resilient in the future./