Opposition MP Hem Chand has warned that Fiji is facing an escalating skills shortage that poses a direct threat to the country’s economic future and long-term stability.
Speaking in Parliament last week, Mr Chand said the crisis was now affecting every major sector — from healthcare and education to engineering, agriculture, tourism and technology.
“Sir, I rise to draw urgent national attention to a challenge that strikes at the heart of our economic future and social stability — the skills shortage crisis currently affecting our nation,” he said.
“This is not merely a labour issue, but a national issue… and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer.”
Mr Chand said the shortage of skilled workers had reached an “acute” point, with businesses struggling to fill vacancies, essential services under strain and development projects delayed.
“Hospitals are losing nurses and doctors. Schools are searching for qualified teachers, and construction projects are delayed due to the lack of engineers and tradesmen,” he said.
“The continued exodus has strained the country’s workforce and with a shrinking working-age population, Fiji now faces serious challenges in sustaining economic growth.”
He said the labour shortage was also affecting tourism, agriculture and the primary industries, with employers reporting serious difficulties in finding workers with essential technical skills.
“Tourism operators face shortages of qualified hospitality managers, and construction firms struggle to recruit skilled tradespeople,” he said.
“Technology companies cannot find competent developers and data analysts in sufficient numbers.”
Mr Chand warned that despite significant investment in education, Fiji was increasingly losing its returns offshore.
“As a country, we are investing heavily in education, yet the return on that investment is increasingly benefiting foreign economies,” he said.
“This trend must be reversed.”
He said three key factors were driving the crisis: migration, a lack of incentives and limited career development pathways.
“Over the last few years, Fiji has experienced a wave of skilled workers departing for Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and other destinations,” he said.
“When a qualified nurse leaves, it is not only a vacancy, but also a loss of experience, mentorship and service. When dozens or hundreds leave, the impact becomes systemic and critical.”
Mr Chand urged the government to confront the issue head-on and develop long-term, sustainable solutions to rebuild Fiji’s workforce and retain skilled professionals.
