Oman has outlined a new roadmap to make its labour market more flexible and future-ready, with stronger governance, updated legislation and greater support for emerging economic sectors.
The roadmap was developed through labour market laboratories held as part of the third edition of the Labour Forum, under the patronage of Dr Mahad Said Ba’Owain, Minister of Labour. The initiative forms part of Oman’s wider efforts to advance economic diversification in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The Minister highlighted the arts, entertainment and recreation sector as a promising area for investment and employment. He said its development could help diversify national income, create new jobs and increase value-added contributions to the economy.
However, he stressed that the sector’s growth would require a regulatory framework tailored to its activities, alongside stronger operational efficiency and competitiveness. With creative industries increasingly linked to commercial, financial and investment activities serving regional and global markets, greater coordination among government entities will also be needed.
The Ministry said labour legislation is being developed through a participatory approach involving government institutions, employers and workers, with support from the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs. The approach aims to ensure regulations and ministerial decisions keep pace with economic changes while balancing the interests of all stakeholders.
The labour market laboratories focused on practical solutions rather than simply identifying challenges. Participants analysed root causes, prioritised issues and developed recommendations backed by performance indicators, responsible entities and implementation timelines.
One laboratory examined governance of legislative procedures and ministerial decisions, focusing on transparency, regulatory efficiency, simplified procedures and stronger institutional coordination.
Another focused specifically on the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, exploring opportunities in employment, investment and entrepreneurship. Discussions covered artistic production, content creation, digital media, event management and entertainment technology.
Key recommendations included updating the regulatory framework, aligning education and training with the needs of emerging industries, supporting investment and entrepreneurship in creative sectors, encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthening public-private partnerships.
The Ministry said the outcomes mark a step towards a more efficient and adaptable labour market while creating an environment that can support sustainable economic growth.
The roadmap is expected to create new avenues for employment and investment and enable emerging sectors, particularly the creative economy, to play a larger role in Oman’s economic development.