The total number of Omanis employed in the private sector increased by 1.5 per cent in March 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Citizens constituted 16.5 per cent of the total employees in the private sector in March 2020 and 18 per cent in March 2021. 

NCSI’s figures indicate that the number of jobseekers reached 2.80 per cent at the end of March 2021. Bachelor’s degree holders formed the largest category of jobseekers comprising 10.50 per cent, followed by university diploma holders – nine per cent, and General Education Diploma holders and equivalent category – four per cent.

The figures show that there were 254,999 Omanis working in the private sector in March 2021, who were insured by the Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI), compared to 261,268 in the same period in 2020, accounting for a drop of 6,269.

NCSI data also reveals a reduction in the number of expatriate workers by 168,833 in one year. There were 1,152,920 expatriate workers in March 2021 compared to 1,321,753 in same period in 2020. 

Bangladeshi nationalities accounted for the largest proportion of expatriate workers – 38 per cent – followed by Indians (34 per cent) and Pakistanis (13 per cent) in March 2021. The largest numberof expatriate workers were employed in the construction sector – 27.30 per cent.

‘A recruitment ban on expatriates in select professions was introduced a few years ago to regulate the Omani labour market and encourage more job opportunities for citizens. The private sector has been targeting training and upskilling of Omani youth for potential direct employment as well as the development of SMEs,’ the NCSI stated.