Employment in Melanesia

Economic Overview

The economies vary throughout Melanesia. For example, Fiji has plenty of natural resources and went through a period of rapid economic growth in the 1970s. It stagnated in the 1980s, however. New Caledonia, on the other hand, is rich in nickel and holds a quarter of the world’s nickel resources. This does mean that hardly any of the land can be cultivated and the economy relies heavily on imported food, tourism and financial support from France.

Papua New Guinea boasts a lot of very rough terrain, which makes it difficult to exploit its natural resources. Combined with the high costs of the developing towns and problems with law and order, this means it’s not as economically viable as perhaps it could be. PNG exports oil, gold, and copper.

Western New Guinea has an undeveloped economy and the people who live there get by fishing, cultivating certain foods and hunting. Similarly, the Solomon Islands is less developed than PNG and Fiji and most people farm and fish to get by.

Work Permits for Melanesia

When looking for a job in Melanesia or deciding whether to move to Melanesia to live and work, information on each country will need to be researched carefully. Visa applications and needs can vary within the Pacific Islands and rules will need to be checked with the home embassy to ensure that they are fully understood.

Job Hunting in Melanesia

Hunting for jobs in Melanesia is a task that should be taken seriously and approached logically. Expats who are looking to work in Melanesia and stay longer than a tourist visa would allow will need to secure job along with accommodation and insurance. It’s not the easiest choice to make, and many expats are sure to find it challenging to start off with.

However, if research is undertaken and a job role with the appropriate benefits, healthcare and remuneration is offered, then living and working Melanesia can be an extremely challenging and unique experience.

The best methods for searching for a job in Melanesia include national or local newspapers, such as the Fiji Times and Papa New Guinea’s The National, or international job hunting websites.