Muscat – Over 10,000 citizens were recruited in both the public and private sectors in the first quarter of 2022, according to the Ministry of Labour (MoL).

The ministry said that the public and private sectors are partners in creating and generating job opportunities. The total number of Omanis employed during the first quarter of this year is 10,017; of these, 4,126 in the government sector and 5,891 in the private sector. ‘With this, 29 per cent of the total jobs targeted in 2022 has been achieved,’ MoL stated.

‘The statistics show the ministry’s keenness on employment, qualification and training associated with employment, as well as the localisation of jobs, which is the supreme goal of the government.’

Of the total, 8,007 jobseekers were hired through employment and replacement opportunities and 2,010 were employed through training, rehabilitation and employment-related training opportunities.

MoL confirmed that the replacement plans in the government sector are going on well and the results are satisfactory.

The ministry targets 10,000 jobs this year through employment and replacement opportunities. Of this, 2,573 have already been offered in the first quarter of 2022 – around 20 per cent of the target.

The ministry added that the percentage in the private sector reached 34 per cent (5,434 employed), where the target is 16,000. Of the 5,434, 1,806 job opportunities were offered to holders of General Education Diploma, and 1,785 were employed as managers, specialists and technicians.

In the training and rehabilitation sector, MoL targets 2,000 jobs this year. With 1,553 jobs already offered, the percentage of employment in this category has reached 78 per cent.

In the private sector, the target is 7,000 jobs, of which 457 or seven per cent have been offered in the first quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, the General Federation of Oman Workers’ latest data shows that jobs of 45,708 citizens were saved in 2021.

By the end of December 2021, as many as 40,000 Omanis were hired, bringing the total number of jobseekers within the range of 50,000.

MoL is aiming to provide 35,000 job opportunities through recruitment, replacement and training for citizens in 2022.