The 2026 National Skills Gap Assessment Survey has revealed a growing loss of critical skills across Fiji’s business sector, with employers warning of serious impacts on productivity and competitiveness.
The report identified 95 distinct skills that businesses say are now lacking, driven largely by workforce turnover, migration, retirement and limited training opportunities.
According to the survey, the most affected roles include chefs (7.6%), IT technicians (6.0%), accountants (5.8%) and electricians (5.0%), highlighting shortages across both technical and professional fields.
Other key gaps were recorded in machine operators, administrative officers, carpentry and joinery, senior management roles, engineers, and logistics and heavy goods drivers.
Business owners and managers said the loss of skilled workers is directly affecting operations.
“The absence of these skills not only constrains growth but also increases reliance on external recruitment and training interventions,” the report stated.
Migration — both overseas and within Fiji — was identified as the leading cause of skills loss, with employers pointing to increasing movement of workers seeking better opportunities.
Government-supported employment pathways, including the National Employment Centre (NEC) and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, were also cited as contributing factors.
“While these schemes provide valuable opportunities for individuals, they simultaneously create challenges for local enterprises in retaining experienced staff,” the report noted.
Post-COVID impacts and the demand for higher skill levels were also listed among the key drivers behind workforce attrition.
The findings underscore the growing challenge for businesses in maintaining a stable workforce, with implications for service delivery, efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Analysts say the data highlights an urgent need for targeted workforce development, training investment and retention strategies to address Fiji’s widening skills gap.
