Nearly 11 percent of employers applied for work permits between August 2023 and January 2025, with approximately 6,460 permits issued in critical sectors such as construction, manufacturing, tourism, retail and services.
This was highlighted by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during the launch of the National Skills Gap Assessment Survey Report.
Rabuka says Fiji continues to face persistent labour shortages driven by rising domestic demand, labour mobility and strong global competition for talent.
He reveals that about 15,500 Fijians migrated overseas for better employment opportunities between January 2023 and February 2024, placing added pressure on the sustainability of Fiji’s workforce.
Rabuka says key skills gaps are currently being filled by foreign workers in technical and machine operations, accounting and culinary roles.
He says employers are now seeking workers with not only technical competence but also strong customer service skills, problem-solving abilities, digital literacy and the ability to apply emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
The Prime Minister says despite job vacancies, many youths between the ages of 15 and 24 remain disengaged from both employment and education, highlighting a major disconnect between education pathways and labour market needs.
Rabuka says the challenges are the result of a long-standing mismatch between education, training and industry demands, where systems have not sufficiently equipped individuals with the skills and work readiness required in today’s economy.
He also stresses the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies and employers to address workforce shortages while ensuring foreign recruitment complements rather than replaces the domestic workforce.
Rabuka says government has established the National Task Force on Labour and Skills to improve labour planning and support the implementation of the National Skills Gap Assessment Survey.
The Prime Minister says the survey is a national decision-making tool that will help shape workforce, education and economic policies.
