Post-COVID economic recovery and higher labour migration pushed up job vacancies by 32 per cent on an annual basis in September, according to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF).
In its November economic review, RBF said labour market conditions remain tight as demand for labour continued to rise.
“The number of job vacancies increased 32.3 per cent in the year to September led by higher recruitment intentions in tourism related sectors,” RBF stated.
“Similarly, the number of formal employment and wages paid also increased annually up to August,” it stated Economic activities in consumption and investments also picked up pace, supported by higher remittances inflows (21.8 per cent) and reflected in a 20.1 per cent increase in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax collection, cumulative to October.
“Partial indicators for consumption such as net Value Added Tax (VAT) collections (27.6 per cent) and new lending for consumption purposes (11.2 per cent) recorded annual increases up to October.”
Recovery in investment activities was also noted.
“Commercial banks’ new lending for investment purposes rose annually (33.7 per cent) cumulative to October driven by higher lending to the real estate, building & construction and to households for home investments,” RBF said.
Value of work put-in-place picked up in the first-half of this year while number of building permits issued and cement sales recorded annual declines cumulative to September.
