The present manpower situation in the country is significantly different from that which existed a decade ago. In the late 1970's, unemployment was rife and approximately 20 per cent of the labour force was either unemployed or underemployed. As a result of massive job creation in the industrial sector (resolutely oriented towards export) the contry attained a near-full employment situation in the mid 80's. After having known a spell of quasi-full employment for almost a decade, the country is now witnessing a resurgence of unemployment , exacerbated by an unprecedented global context characterised by intensive economic liberalisation and realignment on the new regulations of the World Trade Organisation. Besides, rapidly changing technology, especially in Information Technology and Telecommunication, is becoming increasingly demanding and warrant the repositioning of the country on new economic base.

The previous pattern of development based on low-cost, low-tech and unlimited suppply of adaptable labour is now redundant. The productivity and quality enhancement and a shift towards high-technology have become the pre-requisites to ensure the survival of Mauritius in a dynamic and increasingly competitive environment. The increasing pace of technologcial advance and constant international competition mean a complex range of policies is needed to provide Mauritians with the best opportunities to find job. The challenge includes nurturing the climate and conditions conducive for job creation and preparing people for change in their working lives. The crux of the problem today is to equip the young entrants on the labour market, and those already there with the right and appropriate knowledge and skills to make them employable, thereby responding more effectively and efficiently to the development needs of the country.

Despite having attained a high literacy rate (over 80 per cent), yet the quality of labour force in Mauritius falls short of that needed to propel the country into a high-technology, skill-intensive economy and to survive in an increasingly fierce competitive international environment. Close to half of our labour force has no more than primary education. Comparable figures for Singapore, Korea and Malaysia range between 10 to 30 per cent. Skilled manpower is insufficient to meet the demand of upcoming industries using technologically sophisticated mode of production and even of traditional sectors which are compelled to modernise their modes of production. Large pools of unskilled labour, with no immediate prospects of employment, co-exist side by side with acute shortages of critical skills Low enrolment in science subjects at the Cambridge School Certificate and the Cambridge Higher School Certificate levels is a major constraint. Some 38 per cent of students offer science subjects at the Cambridge School Certificate, whilst the proportion of those taking these subjects at the Cambridge Higher School Certificate is about 27 per cent only. Even for Computer Science, the number of students offering this subject is not encouraging.

Universal primary education has, for all practical purposes, been achieved with 105 per cent of 6-11 age group enrolled. Maurtius compares favourably with Africa and many Asian developing countries on this side as we are ahead of the Development Millenium goal. However, the education system as a whole has not kept pace with the skill requirements of the expanding economy.