KPL
Laos upgraded, trained, tested and certified more than 126,000 workers during the first nine months of 2026 as the government stepped up efforts to improve labour skills and employment opportunities.
(KPL) Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Phoxay Sayasone told the 2nd Ordinary Session of the 10th National Assembly on October 7 that a total of 126,392 people, including 59,221 women, received labour skills training, upgrading, testing or certification.
Of the total, 126,255 people received training and skills upgrading, exceeding the National Assembly target of 80,000. However, only 137 people underwent skills testing and received certificates, well below the target of 50,000.
During the same period, 76,604 Lao workers, including 39,411 women, registered for employment. Of these, 5,259 sought jobs domestically and 71,345 sought employment overseas.
Employment was secured for 119,382 people, including 15,772 workers placed in domestic jobs and 103,610 placed overseas.
The ministry has also promoted self-employment and rural employment since 2024, focusing on disadvantaged, low-income and unemployed people, particularly in agriculture and services.
Training has covered modern farming, mushroom cultivation, livestock raising, food processing, weaving, marketing, entrepreneurship and business planning.
From 2024 to 2026, a total of 969 people completed self-employment training. The ministry also provided equipment to help 175 people start their own occupations and conducted mobile agricultural vocational training for 170 disadvantaged workers in remote rural areas.
KPL
