Job advertisements have decreased by 7.2 percent as of June, indicating a reduction in job market pressures, according to the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s recent August Economic Review released this week. This decline is partly due to companies adjusting their hiring plans amid increasing operational costs.
The Reserve Bank noted that approximately 150 companies are included on the Department of Immigration’s Qualified Employers List, which permits these businesses to recruit foreign labor in cases of skill shortages. Furthermore, stricter migration policies in other countries have contributed to a decrease in the number of Fijians moving abroad.
Overall, there has been a 33.3 percent decline in the number of people leaving Fiji for employment, education, or other reasons as of July. This reduction may have led to fewer resignations and, consequently, a decrease in job vacancies.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua issued a directive on May 1, 2024, exempting nearly 150 companies in Fiji from certain requirements when applying for Priority Work Permits for foreign national recruitment. These exemptions include the need to justify why the position cannot be filled by a Fijian citizen, provide evidence of job advertisements, explain the unsuitability of local applicants, outline local training plans, and list local individuals to be trained.
A complete list of these companies has been made available by the Fiji Immigration Department under the “Qualified Employers List.”