Labor market in Samoa

Samoa's labor market is supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL), the Samoa Bureau of Statistics, the Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA), the National University of Samoa, the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF), the Public Service Commission and other public, private and community institutions. The market covers paid employment, self-employment, employers, contributing family work, informal work, education-to-work pathways, job matching and labor mobility. The 2022 labor force survey recorded 55,960 people in the labor force, including 53,135 employed people and 2,825 unemployed people. The unemployment rate was 5.0%, with 3.5% for men and 7.8% for women. Among people aged 15 to 24, unemployment was 13.4%, including 8.3% for young men and 23.3% for young women. Labor underutilization was 6.6%, and 30.1% of people aged 15 to 24 were not in employment, education or training. These figures describe different labor-market conditions and should not be treated as a single measure of job availability. Upolu contains 77.7% of Samoa's population and Savai'i 22.0%. Apia Urban Area recorded 2.4% unemployment in 2022, compared with 5.6% in North-West Upolu, 8.2% in the Rest of Upolu and 4.0% in Savai'i. Rural areas had much more informal employment than urban areas: 10,256 informal workers were recorded in rural areas compared with 3,191 in urban areas. Employment outside formal wage work includes 17,250 own-account workers, 4,762 contributing family workers and 1,517 employers, alongside 28,850 employees. Formal employment registered with SNPF increased from 24,280 people in 2021 to 27,154 in 2025. In 2025, public administration was the largest listed sector with 7,090 registered workers, followed by commerce with 4,532 and other services with 2,856. Accommodation, transport, finance, education, personal services, manufacturing, health, construction, agriculture and fishing also contributed formal jobs. Real GDP grew by 1.8% in 2025, supported by finance and business services, communication, public administration, electricity and water, personal and other services, construction, and accommodation and restaurants. Samoa does not have a reliable publicly available current median wage or occupation-specific official wage table. The total wage bill reached SAT$1,086.8 million in 2025, compared with SAT$569.7 million in 2021. The wage index, with 2013 equal to 100, stood at 152 overall in 2025. The index was especially high in agriculture, fishing, restaurants and accommodation, but an index does not show the actual wage received by a particular worker. From 1 July 2026, the private-sector and state-owned-enterprise minimum wage is SAT$5.24 per hour; scheduled rates are SAT$5.65 from 1 July 2027 and SAT$6.05 from 1 July 2028. Employees covered by the Public Service Act 2004 are excluded from this minimum-wage schedule. Private employers and employees, including state-owned enterprises, are generally covered by the Consolidated Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, its 2023 amendment and the Labour and Employment Relations Regulations 2025. MCIL handles matters such as wages, leave, dismissal, working conditions, occupational safety and health, and employment disputes. A grievance can be submitted to MCIL; the ministry indicates that processing may take about two months, depending on the matter. Public-service employment follows the separate Public Service Act 2004 framework. Post-school education and training (PSET) is regulated by SQA. Samoa had 24 formal PSET providers in 2024, with 6,674 enrolments: 4,588 at universities, 1,577 in technical and vocational education and training, and 509 with religious providers. There were 2,522 graduates and 172 accredited PSET programmes. SQA also recognized 51 non-formal learning activities at 11 providers and assesses foreign qualifications. Among the 2020-2022 graduate cohort, 32% obtained employment within six months, while 85% of surveyed employers reported satisfaction with graduates. Enrolments were concentrated in society and culture, management and commerce, mixed fields, natural and physical sciences, food, hospitality and personal services, agriculture and environment, engineering and related technologies, and information technology. The Samoa Apprenticeship Council and MCIL support apprenticeships delivered through workplace and off-the-job training, with the National University of Samoa's Faculty of Applied Science involved in the programme. The listed pathway takes three years for a Certificate III and Samoa Apprenticeship Certificate IV. Typical access conditions include being at least 18, holding a Certificate II from technical and vocational education, being employed, having at least one year of relevant experience and receiving employer sponsorship. For 2026, tuition is listed at WST 2,500 per year for Certificate III and WST 3,000 for Certificate IV, funded 65% by government, 30% by the employer and 5% by the apprentice. Trade areas include automotive engineering, carpentry and joinery, electrical engineering, fitting and machining, plumbing, refrigeration and air conditioning, and welding. MCIL's Jobs Portal provides free access to verified employers and vacancies in private companies, the public service, state-owned enterprises and non-governmental organizations. Users can create a profile, upload a résumé and apply directly. Public-service vacancies also appear through Public Service Commission circulars, while NGO and community channels provide additional routes. The portal is for jobs inside Samoa and does not replace the separate processes for overseas employment. The Labour and Employment Export Programme (LEEP) provides government-supported screening, pre-departure and welfare assistance for overseas workers. Registration is free, and access is organized through 51 constituencies, village or district structures and community groups such as village representatives, churches, women's committees and youth groups. New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme mainly covers horticulture and viticulture, while Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme covers several sectors. A non-citizen who wants to work in Samoa needs a Foreign Employment Employee Permit before starting work. The employer submits the application, and the permit assessment considers local labor supply and demand. The permit can last up to three years, is not transferable between employers or roles, and is separate from a residence permit. Samoa's National Employment Policy for 2021/22 to 2025/26 focuses on labor demand, labor supply, and policies, institutions and regulation. Its priorities include local goods and services, access for women, young people and people with disabilities, emerging skills, movement from informal to formal work, decent employment, labor mobility, improved labor-market data and better job matching.