Job advertisements in Fiji have decreased by 7.2 percent up to June, indicating a slowdown in job market pressures, according to the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s latest Economic Review released in August. This decline is partly due to businesses adjusting their hiring plans amid increasing operational costs.
The report also highlighted that around 150 companies are on the Department of Immigration’s Qualified Employers List, which permits them to recruit foreign workers in areas with skill gaps. Additionally, stricter immigration policies in other countries have contributed to a decrease in the number of Fijians moving abroad.
The total number of individuals leaving Fiji for employment, education, emigration, and other reasons has dropped by 33.3 percent up to July. This reduction in departures may lead to fewer resignations and consequently lower job vacancies.
In a move to streamline employment processes, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua issued a directive on May 1, 2024, exempting nearly 150 companies from providing specific information to the Fiji Immigration Department when applying for Priority Work Permits for foreign workers. The exemptions include reasons for not hiring Fijian citizens, evidence of job advertisements, and training details for local applicants.
The names of these companies have been published in a list called the “Qualified Employers List” by the Fiji Immigration Department.