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Plans to create 45,000 new jobs in 2025
Muscat – Ministry of Labour (MoL) has introduced a waiting list initiative, a smart system aimed at streamlining job opportunities as part of broader employment policy reforms. Officials also announced completion of a review of the minimum wage structure.
At its annual conference on Monday, MoL unveiled plans to create 45,000 job opportunities in 2025. This includes 11,000 training and qualification placements, 10,000 government sector jobs and 24,000 positions in private enterprises.
H E Mahad bin Saeed Baowain, Minister of Labour, said the ministry is focused on employment-linked training programmes, wage support and on-the-job training. “These efforts will cater to jobseekers across multiple sectors, including small and medium enterprises, large companies, startups, freelance work and temporary government contracts,” he said.
The ministry has also launched the pilot phase of a project called ‘Smart Management’ in collaboration with the private sector to enhance digital governance in human resource management. The project integrates artificial intelligence-driven applications and a digital knowledge base to improve workforce planning.
According to H E Baowain, companies participating in the training-linked employment programme have achieved a compliance rate of over 82%. The ministry surpassed its 2024 employment target of 35,000, successfully placing 36,615 workers, achieving 104% of its goal. By the end of 2024, 17,215 individuals, including 11,758 men, had benefited from the government’s job security programme.
As part of ongoing digital transformation efforts, MoL has introduced a platform to monitor termination requests. In 2024, termination requests for Omani workers fell significantly. Of 5,402 requests from private sector companies, only 87 were approved through labour negotiations and economic committees, allowing 4,892 Omani employees to retain their jobs.
The ministry has also rolled out a system called ‘Individual Excellence’ across 67 government entities, incorporating 45 new features to enhance work efficiency, leadership performance and job satisfaction. Government agencies will be assessed on their operational speed and leadership effectiveness.
H E Baowain informed that the number of expatriates working in the private sector surpasses 2mn, while Omanis in the sector is around 265,000.
As part of workforce localisation efforts, 2,800 Omanis have been placed in leadership and mid-management roles in industrial cities in collaboration with Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn). The National Employment Programme continues to align educational programmes with labour market needs, and work is underway to establish specialised companies to help job seekers enter emerging sectors, including information technology and industrial maintenance services.
To support entrepreneurship, MoL has introduced a freelance work package offering financing, training, social protection and consulting services. The initiative aims to empower Omani entrepreneurs and strengthen the gig economy.