On December 15, 2024, the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) launched a nationwide labour force survey that will run until Saturday. As part of the survey, a dedicated team from MBS will visit randomly selected households to collect data. The Bureau has emphasised the critical role of public cooperation in ensuring the success of this initiative, highlighting how the collected data will provide valuable insights for shaping policies and programs that benefit the nation's workforce and economy.
The results from the data collected by the MBS can give the Government a vital insight into understanding the dynamics of the country’s workforce, which will play a crucial role when it comes to shaping the economy in the future. As the MBS collects the data with the objectives of identifying the labour force, gathering labour statistics, determining employment and unemployment rates, finding migration rates for population projects, obtaining data for the decent job indicator, as well as assessing the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the data collected can help the Government design targeted employment policies, create effective job programs, and develop training initiatives that align with the demands of various industries.
For instance, if a particular sector faces skill shortages, the government can implement vocational training programs to bridge the gap and meet the needs of that sector. This ensures that both the economy and the workforce remain agile and competitive. Labour force surveys are equally important for fostering economic growth and competitiveness. By identifying sectors with growth potential and workforce gaps, policymakers can attract investments and steer resources toward high-demand industries.
For individuals, labour force data serves as a guide for career planning, as it informs people about industries and skills in demand, empowering them to make informed decisions about their careers. Students, too, benefit by understanding which educational paths offer the most opportunities, ensuring their qualifications align with market needs.
According to the MBS, some of the areas that this survey will focus on and question individuals on include:
- Employment details
- Education
- Household Production
- Volunteer work
- Unemployment details
- Demographic information
- Migration
- Volunteer work