Muscat – In a move aligned with Oman Vision 2040, the Ministry of Labour (MoL) will soon launch a comprehensive survey targeting 3,000 private sector businesses across governorates.

Slated to commence in September, this three-month project aims to gain a deeper understanding of the current and anticipated skill demands of the private sector.

An official from MoL informed about the survey’s significance saying, “This initiative will empower relevant government bodies to accurately gauge the private sector’s skill requirements and predict future job roles. It’s a pivotal component of our national employment strategy, which is focused on refining labour market management to meet its ever-evolving demands.”

The official emphasised that this endeavour is a collaborative effort, undertaken with the National Centre for Statistics and Information. “It’s about thoroughly examining the needs and prerequisites of the labour landscape, across various jobs and proficiencies, while considering both current and emerging demands.”

Elaborating on the survey’s periodicity, the official said, “We are set to roll out this survey biennially. Its findings will arm policymakers with invaluable insights, allowing them to devise informed strategies and to better understand immediate and future workforce needs.”

On the broader implications of the survey, he elaborated, “In light of the rapid industrial transformation, this initiative will highlight the challenges faced by the private sector in fulfilling their human resource and skill demands. It will play an instrumental role in evaluating jobs, addressing the existing skill disparity, and ensuring businesses remain sustainable.”

One of the outcomes anticipated from this survey is identification of specific skills and roles that might be currently absent in the workforce, resulting in refined recruitment strategies, especially concerning expatriate employees.

“For seamless conduct of the survey, we’ve assembled a 60-member fieldwork team representing various governorates, buttressed by a dedicated central unit overseeing supervision and coordination,” the MoL official said.