Professions in Kiribati

The 2020 Census recorded 30,110 people aged 15 and over with an occupation. Elementary occupations accounted for 33%, including low-skilled agricultural and fishing work, street and market selling, and general labour. By industry, wholesale and retail accounted for 29%, agriculture and fishing 23%, and public administration 14%. These figures show why both formal professions and practical livelihood activities matter in Kiribati. Common occupational groups include artisanal and offshore fishing, aquaculture, fish processing, vessel operations, fisheries observation, monitoring and licensing. Agriculture includes coconut and copra work, crops, livestock, household fishing, handicrafts and local selling, especially on the outer islands. Other fields include construction, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, machinery, drafting, transport, storage, hospitality, tourism, household services, energy and information technology. Public-sector work covers administration, local Kaupule services, policing, justice, finance, auditing, infrastructure and utilities. Education and health care include teachers, lecturers, nurses, midwives, doctors, allied health workers and health inspectors. Entry requirements depend on the post. Some lower-formality government or support positions accept Form 3 or Class 9-level schooling. Trade certificates from the Kiribati Institute of Technology support construction, carpentry and related work. Specialist, management and regulatory positions commonly require a diploma or bachelor's degree. Examples include a Trade Certificate and one year of experience for a workshop technician, a Diploma in Education for an education officer, and a degree in tourism studies for a tourism officer. Information technology, architecture, surveying, law and finance positions generally require a relevant degree and professional experience. A principal may need a Bachelor of Education with teaching experience or an advanced qualification with longer experience. A qualification alone does not guarantee appointment because each vacancy sets its own requirements. Maritime work follows a separate qualification pathway. The Marine Training Centre, under the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource, prepares people for standards under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, known as STCW. Marine Engineer Class III may require a Marine Fitter qualification and two years of experience. Class II may require Marine Fitter or Able Seafarer Engine credentials and three years of sea experience. Deck and engineering advancement depends on sea time, examinations, certificates and the relevant licence. International recognition is significant for seafarers seeking employment outside Kiribati. Health professions have sector-specific controls. Medical and dental practitioners require registration, and unregistered practice or use of the professional title is not permitted. Nurses and midwives are governed by a board and register. Teaching posts follow requirements set by the Ministry of Education. Kiribati does not have one complete register covering every profession; licensing and registration depend on the sector. Fisheries work also follows requirements under the Fisheries Act 2010, including licensing and criteria for local vessel ownership. Government recruitment normally starts with a published vacancy, an application form and supporting evidence. The application is submitted in hard copy to the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource headquarters in Bairiki before the stated deadline, followed by a test or other selection step when the notice requires it. Training providers set their own entry rules, fees and course durations. No reliable national fee or duration table covers all professions. Maritime careers take several years when sea-time and STCW requirements are included. Overseas work uses a different pathway. An Island Council may register applicants, followed by screening by a Pre-Selection Committee and the Overseas Employment Unit, final selection and pre-departure training through the Kiribati Institute of Technology or Marine Training Centre. Access depends on the scheme and employer, including qualifications, citizenship, fitness, documents and availability. RSE, SWP, PLS and Sealord opportunities each apply their own criteria and timing. The Employment and Industrial Relations Code 2015 requires a written employment contract and a copy for the worker. The reported minimum hourly rate is $1.30 for private employment and private construction, and $3.00 for foreign-funded projects and construction. The general limit is eight hours per day and 40 hours per week, with at least 12 hours of daily rest, 48 hours of weekly rest and a break after six hours of work. Hourly, daily and weekly workers are generally paid twice a month; monthly and annual workers are generally paid once a month. After six months, maternity leave lasts 12 weeks with a minimum payment of 25%, sick leave can reach 20 working days per year, and compassionate leave is three days per year. Written reasons and notice apply to termination. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2015 requires employers to provide a safe working environment without passing the cost of safety equipment to workers. A worker may leave an immediately serious danger. Inspectors can inspect workplaces, examine records and stop work where there is an immediate danger. Workplaces with more than 25 employees require an occupational health and safety committee. Fishing, maritime work, construction, transport, remote-island work and climate exposure carry particular safety and logistics risks. South Tarawa and Bairiki concentrate government, formal services, the Kiribati Institute of Technology and the Marine Training Centre. Outer islands rely more heavily on agriculture, fishing, handicrafts, Kaupule services and informal or subsistence-based work. Kiritimati and the Line and Phoenix Islands face different travel, supply and service conditions. Career advancement in the public service follows salary levels and the establishment register, but movement from assistant or officer to senior officer, head or director requires a new vacancy, suitable qualifications and experience. Maritime advancement follows rank, sea time, certification and licensing. Skills upgrading can support domestic or overseas placement, but it does not create an automatic promotion.