The National Human Capital Needs Assessment Report has been launched to identify the gaps and skills needed in the labour market.
The National Human Capital Needs Assessment Survey Report was conducted jointly by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development and the World Bank. The study aimed to identify gaps in the labour market, outline the skills required for various jobs, and highlight the challenges faced by local youth in the workforce. The findings will inform both short-term and long-term strategies aligned with the priorities outlined in the President’s manifesto.
During a ceremony held at the Maldives National University (MNU) auditorium, the survey report was officially launched by the Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef.
The aim of the survey, which was conducted in 2024, is to identify the gaps between the training programmes conducted by training institutions and the skills required by employers and to develop a roadmap for teaching Maldivians the necessary knowledge and skills.
In addition, the findings of this survey aim to establish a labour market information system that collects information on the employment sectors in the economy and to strengthen the efforts being made to facilitate employment opportunities for job seekers through the National Careers Service.
The findings of this survey aligned with the government's policy of providing employment to all Maldivians. The survey collected data from seven economic sectors to formulate employment and labour policies based on complete information.
Data Collection Sectors Include:
1. Tourism
2. Construction
3. Education and Health and Social Services
4. Wholesale and Retail Businesses
5. Information, Communication, Technology (ICT)
6. Agriculture and Fisheries
7. Transportation
The survey focuses on the statistics of workers in these sectors and the training and skills requirement for each sector.
It also includes, the percentage of domestic and foreign workers, the proportion of women and men in different jobs, and the data for different regions of the country along with key areas of current need for each sector and the most needed education and skills for jobs that will most likely increase in the future.
The survey found that the most important sectors that will see the highest increase in employment opportunities over the next 10 years are tourism, construction, health and ICT.
The study highlights the need to strengthen the relationship between education, training and labour market needs, along with strengthening vocational education and training programmes, micro-credential programmes introduced as modular courses that students can complete one stage at a time and to strengthen the system where students can build skills at their own pace while fostering a culture of continuous skills development.
A strong career guidance and counseling system has been proposed through the survey to enable employees to make informed career choices.
In addition, it recommended moving towards public-private partnerships in training and development programmes and prioritising support for targeted skills shortages in programmes that can provide assistance for higher education such as scholarships, study loans, and free degree programmes.
Recommendations have also been made to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of higher education aid and incentives and link aid programmes to national development goals and student needs.
The survey also identified the need for family-friendly work policies and culture to ensure gender equality in the workplace. In addition, key cross-cutting factors for different sectors include the introduction and continuation of training programmes on climate resilience and programmes that can keep pace with growing new technological developments. It also emphasised the importance of expanding education and employment opportunities to different parts of the country.