Skills for Solomon Islands: Opening new opportunities

The report explores the demand for skills in current job opportunities in Solomon Islands and finds a mismatch with skills supplied in the labour force. It proposes practical actions to orient the supply of training to the economic opportunities available at home and overseas.

The report shows that more actions are needed across a range of areas, from expanding early childhood education to literacy training, to services supporting the transition from school to employment, and coordination of labour market data within government and with employers. Training preparation for labour migration would help assess overseas employment opportunities which are important to the future of many Solomon Islanders. The report supports the Government’s National Human Resource Development and Training Plan and identifies key actions to include:
• development of the National Qualifications Framework;
• improved linkages between training providers and employers including at provincial level;
• increasing second chance education to gain literacy and livelihoods skills;
• non-formal training pathways relevant to informal and village livelihoods;
• incentives for workplace training and reduced barriers for women in training and enterprise.

The report finds that jobseekers need skills, the right motivation and expectations, and work-ready behaviours such as problem-solving, communication and attitudes to meet employer needs. As formal employment is limited, more financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills training could expand the informal and self-employment livelihoods opportunities needed by the majority of Solomon Islanders.