The World Bank says more labour mobility in the Pacific is the best way to tackle the region's growing employment challenges.
In a new report, the Bank says strategies are needed to create employment opportunities, especially for women and the Pacific's burgeoning youth population.
A Bank economist, Suva-based Tobias Haque, says the fact most Pacific economies are very small and remote means private sector activity within those countries is under a lot of pressure.
He says because of these pressures the priority must be to allow workers to move to markets facing fewer constraints.
"Which is larger markets. Obviously there is a strong history for Pacific labour mobility to New Zealand and Australia and we are suggesting that that should be expanded and in the longer term I suppose there are other large markets, Asia etc that could also be looked at."
Tobias Haque.
