New Career Centre Aims to Tackle Fiji’s Skills Shortage

A new career center is in the works to address the labor shortage in Fiji, spearheaded by Natural Waters of Viti Pte Limited, the company behind FIJI Water. During the Top Executives Conference 2024 in Denarau, Marigold Moody, the assistant general counsel for the South Pacific, announced the initiative, which aims to replicate a successful model from California.

Moody highlighted the project’s significance as an investment in Fiji’s future workforce. She oversees various special projects at the company, emphasizing the need for skills development among local workers. The call for this initiative stems from a critical shortage of skilled Pacific Island seafarers to operate the 11 vessels that serve the region, a situation that has become increasingly pressing as FIJI Water plans to expand.

Having invested over FJ$140 million to increase its capacity by approximately 47%, the company anticipates a need for more personnel in the coming decade. The career center, set to open in Suva by 2025 in partnership with Fiji National University, will focus on job readiness and skills training tailored to meet employer demands.

Moody pointed out the existing gap in workforce readiness and highlighted plans to engage other players from the manufacturing and marine sectors through an industry council to bolster this initiative. The center will strive to equip future employees with the essential skills to meet market requirements, thereby enhancing employment prospects in Fiji.

This initiative not only shows a commitment to building a stronger local workforce but also reflects an opportunity for collaboration within the business community to foster economic growth and sustainability in the region. Such projects could foster a more skilled and capable labor market, which is essential for the long-term success of industries reliant on skilled labor.

In summary, the proposed career center represents a proactive step towards alleviating labor shortages in Fiji, promising to create job-ready individuals while supporting the growth of local industries.