Jobs, women and skills key to economic recovery, forum told

Fiji must urgently create jobs, bring more women into the workforce, reform the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) and fast-track skilled immigration to help lift the economy from its current slowdown.

Those issues were highlighted by panellists at the State of the Fijian Economy Dialogue 2026 in Suva yesterday.

World Bank senior economist Naomi Mathenge said economic growth alone would not be enough.

"We need a jobs-led growth strategy that expands labour demand, strengthens human capital and improves labour market functions," Ms Mathenge said.

She said female labour force participation remained at about 40 per cent, compared with nearly 80 per cent for men, and had shown little improvement in recent years.

Ms Mathenge said closing the gender pay gap and addressing chronic diseases, which often force women to stay home as caregivers, were critical steps.

University of the South Pacific senior economist Mahendra Reddy called for Government grants and matching funds for small and micro-enterprises in the upcoming Budget.

"That's where you'll see many of these women who are already working. You can assist them with better equipment and incubator facilities," Dr Reddy said.

Fiscal Review Committee chairman Richard Naidu urged Government to corporatise the WAF, describing it as chronically underfunded.

He said water charges were too low to support the investment needed to improve services.

Mr Naidu also called for immigration reforms to speed up the entry of skilled workers, including builders, engineers, architects and accountants, to help unlock a multi-billion-dollar investment pipeline.

"Without the skills, we cannot get this programme of investment moving," Mr Naidu said.

The dialogue comes ahead of the Government's 2026-2027 National Budget announcement on June 27.