Job advertisements have decreased by 7.2 percent as of June, indicating a slowdown in job market pressures, according to the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s latest August Economic Review released this week.
This decline is partially linked to changes in hiring plans among businesses due to increasing operational costs. The Reserve Bank noted that about 150 companies are on the Department of Immigration’s Qualified Employers’ List, which allows them to hire foreign workers in cases of skill shortages.
Additionally, stricter migration policies in other countries have resulted in fewer Fijians relocating overseas. The total number of individuals leaving for employment, education, training, emigration, and other reasons decreased by 33.3 percent as of July, which may have led to fewer resignations and subsequently, fewer job vacancies.
On May 1, 2024, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua issued a directive allowing nearly 150 companies in Fiji to bypass certain requirements when applying for Priority Work Permits for foreign workers. These requirements include justifying why a position cannot be filled by a Fijian citizen, providing copies of job advertisements, explaining why local applicants were deemed unsuitable, detailing the type of training to be provided to locals, and naming the local individuals to be trained.
The names of these companies are available on the Qualified Employers List published by the Fiji Immigration Department.