Oman’s Ministry of Labour (MoL) has achieved more than half of its annual employment and training target for 2026, creating 34,092 employment and training opportunities during the first six months of the year, underscoring the Sultanate’s continued focus on workforce development and labour market participation.
According to performance indicators released by the ministry on Thursday, the figure represents 56.82% of the ministry’s annual target for employment and training initiatives.
Employment and workforce replacement programmes accounted for the majority of progress, delivering 26,434 opportunities, equivalent to 61% of the ministry’s target for the year. Meanwhile, 7,658 individuals participated in training programmes linked to employment and replacement initiatives, achieving 45% of the planned annual target.
The ministry also revealed that 62,931 people were employed during the first half of 2026. Among them, 34,092 individuals entered the workforce for the first time, while 28,839 experienced jobseekers successfully returned to employment, reflecting efforts to support both new entrants and those rejoining the labour market.
The latest figures reinforce signs of a strengthening labour market in Oman, with the government continuing to prioritise job creation, workforce development and skills enhancement under its broader economic diversification agenda.
The ministry's progress also builds on positive labour market indicators released in May 2026, which showed that total employment in Oman rose 1.5% to around 2.7 million workers in 2025, while the jobseeker rate declined to 3.1% from 3.3% a year earlier.
The data reflected sustained economic activity, growing private-sector employment and the impact of ongoing labour reforms aimed at supporting workforce participation and Oman Vision 2040.
While expatriates continued to account for the majority of the workforce and skills shortages remained in specialised technical roles, the latest employment and training figures suggest the Ministry of Labour is stepping up efforts to strengthen the pipeline of skilled Omani talent.
Aligning training programmes more closely with industry requirements and increasing Omanisation in quality private-sector jobs are expected to remain key priorities as the country seeks to sustain labour market growth and long-term economic resilience.