Professions in Solomon Islands

Professions in Solomon Islands are organized by sector rather than through one all-profession register. Common fields include education, health, public administration, justice and security, construction, engineering, utilities, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary work, maritime and transport services, business, finance, information and communications technology, tourism, hospitality, community and social work, environment and disaster services, and skilled trades such as automotive, electrical, plumbing, carpentry and refrigeration. The 2019 Census recorded 258,383 employed people; 71.3% were in semi-skilled work and 21.3% in elementary work. The same figures recorded 43% formal and 57% informal employment, with professionals making up 27% of formal occupations and 14% of informal occupations. Education accounted for 16% of employment by industry, wholesale and retail for 14%, and construction for 12%; these figures describe structural context rather than a current forecast. Entry pathways commonly begin after Year 11 or Year 12, Form 6 or Form 7, followed by a SINU preparatory programme such as UPC3 or UPC4, a certificate, diploma or degree. Solomon Islands National University, including its faculties for business and tourism, science and technology, nursing, medicine and health sciences, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and education and humanities, provides several of these pathways. Other pathways include SIMC, TAFE, CDFL, Rural Training Centres, DBTI, USP-SI and overseas providers. SINU TAFE skillsets can lead to Certificate II, III or IV qualifications, while NTTT provides trade training and testing. Access may occur through direct admission, an employer or in-service pathway, or a SITESA scholarship, and costs depend on the institution and programme because no single national fee schedule covers all providers. SITESA supports the national qualifications framework, provider registration, course accreditation, quality assurance, scholarships and recognition of international qualifications. SINU also offers progression from certificates through postgraduate study and Master programmes. Regulated entry depends on the occupation. Teachers fall under the Education Act 2023 and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development; the Permanent Secretary and Teaching Service Office oversee the relevant system, including the register and certificates. A recognised teaching qualification, fitness and character checks and a practical teaching period are part of the pathway to full registration. Nurses train through the Nurses Supervised Practice Programme and register with the Nursing Council of Solomon Islands. Doctors and dentists register with the Medical and Dental Board, which provides general, provisional, temporary and specialist registration under the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act and Regulations. Public Service vacancies are generally advertised publicly and require the stated minimum qualifications. A less-qualified applicant may receive non-permanent terms when no suitable candidate is available, while a non-national may generally be engaged only when no qualified Solomon Islander is available and on a non-permanent basis. The Labour Division and Commissioner of Labour administer the Employment Act, Labour Act, Trade Disputes Act, Unfair Dismissal Act, Workmen's Compensation Act, Safety at Work Act and Trade Unions Act. The Safety at Work Act covers full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary and casual workers, as well as home-based workers, volunteers, work-experience participants, apprentices and self-employed workers. Employers must provide safe systems, information, training, protective equipment and supervision, while workers must take reasonable care. An employer must report a work injury lasting more than three days within seven days, and a compensation claim has a target settlement period of three months. Career progression commonly moves from an entry qualification to supervised or probationary practice, then registration or confirmation where required, followed by promotion, specialist work or management. SITESA in-service scholarships, SINU postgraduate study and sector-specific continuing professional development can support progression, but Solomon Islands has no uniform national career ladder. Non-citizens generally need a work permit unless an exemption applies. The employer or applicant must show that no trained and available Solomon Islander can fill the role and provide evidence of the applicant's qualifications and experience. Published work-permit fees include SBD 200 for an application, SBD 150 to SBD 1,100 for approval depending on duration, and SBD 500 for an appeal or variation; entry and residence permits are separate, and localization or training plans may be monitored. Unregistered practice creates risks that differ by profession, so lawyers, engineers, accountants and other occupations require verification with their specific regulator rather than reliance on a blanket licensing rule.