45,000 New Job Opportunities for Nationals in 2023: A Game Changer for Oman’s Economic Growth and Business Landscape
Muscat: The Ministry of Labour has recently reviewed its accomplishments for 2024 and outlined its goals for 2025, emphasizing its commitment to enhancing the labour market and creating employment opportunities for Omani nationals.
During the ministry’s annual press conference held on Monday, Dr. Mahad bin Said Ba’owain, the Minister of Labour, announced that the operational plan for 2025 aims to generate 45,000 job opportunities. This includes 11,000 positions dedicated to training and qualification, 10,000 in government organizations, and 24,000 within the private sector. The minister highlighted the ministry’s focus on bolstering work-related training and wage subsidies specifically for small and medium enterprises.
The conference also reviewed three innovative projects that employ artificial intelligence to enhance smart management and provide funding for their pilot phases. A key topic discussed was the National Employment Programme, which aims to align educational outcomes with labour market demands, particularly through the development of new technologies, including the Tawteen (nationalization) and Khuta (steps) platforms.
The Ministry stressed the importance of technology in facilitating job opportunities via digital tools that improve the effectiveness of program implementation. It has reinforced job nationalization initiatives by placing skilled Omanis in senior and mid-level roles and establishing specialized firms to support employment in critical sectors.
Dr. Ba’owain noted that the ministry is focusing on developing human capital within the state’s administrative apparatus, enhancing national capabilities, and improving talent management. Additionally, the ministry is advancing its digital transformation strategy by implementing a smart administration project in collaboration with the private sector. It is also in the process of designing three pilot applications to test artificial intelligence solutions and creating a visual identity and knowledge base, which includes launching a waiting list initiative to promote best practices in the digital transformation of human resources.
The National Employment Programme is committed to identifying sustainable solutions for job creation in both public and private sectors, ensuring alignment between educational outcomes and the actual needs of the labour market. The program emphasizes the provision of essential resources to achieve the primary objectives of its key initiatives and has implemented various measures to enhance support for all stakeholders involved in education, training, and employment systems.
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The Ministry of Labour’s push to create 45,000 job opportunities reflects a strategic commitment to reform Oman’s labor market, particularly for Omani nationals. This opens up significant opportunities for businesses, especially in the private sector, to engage with a newly skilled workforce while also potentially facing risks in meeting increased labor regulations and competition for talent. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider aligning their strategies with the government’s focus on technology and training, as businesses that actively participate in these initiatives may gain a competitive edge in the evolving market landscape.
