Muscat – Youth unemployment in the Middle East region is almost twice as high as the world average and has grown 2.5 times faster between 2010 and 2021.
In Oman, however, the unemployment rate dropped well below the pre-pandemic level at the start of this year, thanks to the sultanate’s efforts in preventing lay-offs of Omani workers and providing jobs to citizens in cooperation with the private sector.
‘The Middle East is home to the highest rates of unemployed youth in the world. The region needs to create more than 33.3mn new jobs by 2030,’ a joint statement by four UN agencies – International Labour Organization, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund – said.
‘Youth unemployment in the region represents a significant drain on the economic potential of the region. The region is not able to take full advantage of its youth in enhancing prospects of economic growth and stability and peace. A shift in policy is required. The region needs to reduce the overall unemployment rate to five per cent and be able to absorb the large number of young people entering the workforce and stabilise youth unemployment,’ the statement said.
In Oman, the unemployment rate dropped to as low as 1.9 per cent in December 2021, well below the pre-pandemic level of 2.8 per cent witnessed in December 2019, the World Bank said in its recently released Gulf Economic Update report.
According to UN agencies, current education systems and curricula do not match the evolving labour market and the changing nature of work. ‘They do not provide young people with enough skills, critical to success in today’s economy. Healthy, skilled and educated adolescents and youth can drive positive change towards a world fit for them that promotes and protects their rights.’
According to the World Bank, unemployment remains higher among Omani youth aged between 15 and 24, and particularly among young women. It emphasised that more Omanis are currently employed in the private sector as compared to the pre-pandemic times.
‘The private sector continues to be the largest contributor to Omanis’ employment. After a decline in 2020, the number of Omanis employed in the private sector has bounced back, and as of December 2021, it is estimated at about 267,000 compared to an average of about 262,300 in 2019,’ the World Bank said.
By end of December 2021, as many as 40,000 Omanis were hired bringing the total number of jobseekers within the range of 50,000.