Transforming the Workforce: How ‘Building Careers, Not Just Filling Vacancies’ Impacts Oman’s Business Landscape
MUSCAT, JULY 13 – At the forefront of Oman’s workforce transformation is Tawteen, a digital platform that has emerged as a significant driver of employment reform across the nation. In an exclusive interview, Loay al Mujaini, Acting CEO of Tawteen, discussed how this data-centric initiative is not only influencing job searches for Omanis but also reshaping the hiring practices of the private sector, the planning efforts of regulators, and the long-term workforce capabilities of various industries.
“Tawteen was never designed to be merely another job portal,” Al Mujaini stated. “Our vision from the beginning was to create an integrated national ecosystem that connects individuals, employers, and regulators in a concerted effort to localize jobs, boost productivity, and advance Oman’s strategic human capital objectives.”
Tawteen is closely aligned with Oman Vision 2040, particularly in the areas of economic diversification and human capital development. Al Mujaini, who has played a key role in developing the platform’s comprehensive functionality, regards Tawteen as “a living infrastructure” for national workforce planning.
“What distinguishes Tawteen is its capacity to merge intelligence with actionable insights. We are mapping workforce supply, identifying skills gaps, and aligning these findings with growth and investment trends in various sectors,” he explained. “This enables policymakers, educators, and employers to operate with unprecedented clarity.”
The platform supports 17 sector committees, which were established in collaboration with the National Employment Programme (Tashgheel). These committees utilize Tawteen’s robust data tools to manage labor clearances and ensure that Omani candidates are prioritized for essential roles.
“These are not merely dashboards; they are decision-making engines,” Al Mujaini remarked. “Each labor clearance is linked to concrete sector data, including Omani availability, expatriate concentrations, upskilling potential, and hiring timelines. It transforms governance into something digital, equitable, and efficient.”
Among Tawteen’s noteworthy features are its workforce profiling tools, digital contract systems, a freelancing marketplace, and employer productivity modules. The platform also provides localization tools designed to help companies fulfill procurement and Omanisation objectives.
“The private sector is our key partner,” Al Mujaini emphasized. “We equip them with tools to discover talent, achieve compliance goals, and contribute meaningfully to the national workforce strategy. The response has been robust—over 1,700 companies and 100,000 job seekers have already registered.”
Since its inception, Tawteen has facilitated over 670 job postings, offering more than 3,000 vacancies. However, Al Mujaini underscores that success is defined by more than metrics.
“For us, the focus is on creating sustainable career trajectories,” he stated. “That’s why we’ve implemented career pathing, freelancing options, and insights into long-term sector growth trends. We want Omanis to envision the broader landscape—not just the next paycheck.”
Tawteen’s real-time job marketplace is addressing long-standing mismatches between graduates and employer requirements.
“We prioritize fresh graduates and those without prior experience. Tawteen directly connects them with training programs and tailored job alerts. Our strategy is proactive, not passive,” Al Mujaini explained.
One notable success involved the water sector, where Tawteen facilitated hiring in response to substantial infrastructure investments.
“When Nama Water Services announced over RO 700 million in new projects, the water sector committee was able to swiftly identify and post 885 jobs through Tawteen,” Al Mujaini recounted. “That’s the level of responsiveness we are fostering across all sectors.”
Al Mujaini’s strategic vision, operational expertise, and inclusive leadership have been pivotal to Tawteen’s rise as a crucial national instrument. His ability to align efforts across diverse stakeholders—government, private sector, and job seekers alike—has propelled the platform from concept to reality.
“We are not just automating systems,” he asserted. “We are transforming mindsets—about hiring, training, and growth. This transformation calls for trust, transparency, and ongoing innovation.”
Looking to the future, Tawteen plans to expand its offerings into areas such as reskilling, training integration, and entrepreneurship support.
“We envision Tawteen as more than just an employment platform,” Al Mujaini concluded. “We aim for it to be a launchpad for economic empowerment. As Oman strides toward Vision 2040, Tawteen is poised to be a vital partner in the professional journeys of all Omanis.”
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The emergence of Tawteen is a pivotal moment for businesses in Oman, offering innovative tools for recruitment and workforce development that directly align with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. This platform creates both opportunities for companies to optimize hiring processes and challenges for those unprepared to comply with the growing demand for Omanization. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should leverage Tawteen’s insights and data to identify emerging talent pools, adapt to sectoral changes, and enhance their competitive edge in an evolving market.
