The number of jobseekers in Oman’s Musandam Governorate fell by 9.7% year on year to 1,115 by the end of September 2026, down from 1,235 in 2025, as employment initiatives and private-sector partnerships supported job creation for Omani citizens.
The figure marks a further decline from 1,770 jobseekers recorded in 2024, representing a reduction of approximately 37% over two years.
Hussein bin Khamis bin Hamdan Al Naqbi, director of the Labour Department in Musandam Governorate, said 741 jobseekers from the governorate had secured employment between January and September 2026 through initiatives and coordination with public- and private-sector organisations.
The department is continuing to match jobseekers with vacancies based on their qualifications, specialisations and employers’ requirements. It uses the Ministry of Labour’s electronic nomination system to connect candidates with advertised positions.
Training initiatives target employment opportunities
The Labour Department has introduced training and employment programmes to improve jobseekers’ readiness for the labour market and equip them with practical skills.
An employment-linked training initiative has benefited approximately 50 jobseekers in technical, technological and electrical fields. Another 40 jobseekers participated in on-the-job training, while a part-time employment initiative reached 573 men and women.
Al Naqbi said the programmes aim to provide participants with practical experience and professional skills aligned with employers’ needs, improving their prospects of securing and retaining jobs.
He added that vocational training helps develop the capabilities and productivity of Oman’s national workforce, supports job stability and creates opportunities for career advancement in the private sector.
The department is also monitoring private-sector compliance with Omanisation targets by reviewing expatriate labour permits and implementing decisions that reserve certain occupations for Omani citizens. Establishments complying with Omanisation programmes receive facilities and support intended to encourage further recruitment of local talent.
Tourism, logistics and maritime sectors offer job opportunities
Tourism and hospitality, logistics and maritime transport, fisheries, service activities and major investment projects are among the principal sources of current and future employment opportunities in Musandam, according to Al Naqbi.
The governorate’s tourism and maritime assets, alongside its investment potential, are expected to support demand for workers across these sectors.
The Labour Department is strengthening coordination with private-sector employers to identify vacancies, understand workforce requirements and announce positions according to approved timelines. Regular meetings with company representatives are intended to improve transparency and ensure equal access to employment opportunities.
The department is also intensifying field inspections to monitor compliance with Oman’s Labour Law, particularly requirements relating to employment conditions and safe working environments.
Al Naqbi said the department was working with the Office of the Governor of Musandam and other government entities to link investment and development projects with employment opportunities for local residents. This includes incorporating Omanisation and employment targets into the terms and specifications of new projects.
The expansion of tourism, service and productive activities is also expected to create opportunities for local small and medium enterprises through supply chains and project-related contracts, contributing to economic diversification and greater local value creation.
Musandam plans to expand employment-linked training
Fatima bint Ali Al Shehhi, supervisor of the Employment and Labour Market Programme at the Office of the Governor of Musandam, said the governorate had established a dedicated programme in partnership with relevant authorities and private-sector organisations to expand employment opportunities for residents.
She said the initiative aligns with the responsibilities assigned to governorates under the System of Governorates, promulgated by Royal Decree No. 36/2022, which emphasises developing and investing in economic resources to support sustainable development and job creation.
For the next phase, the governorate plans to expand employment-linked training programmes in collaboration with private-sector companies and institutions. The programmes will focus on identifying employers’ workforce requirements and matching the skills and qualifications of jobseekers with available positions and relevant training.
Al Shehhi said stronger coordination between government entities and employers would help translate development and investment projects into sustainable employment opportunities for local residents.
The initiatives form part of Musandam’s efforts to advance Oman Vision 2040 through stronger Omanisation, workforce development and private-sector partnerships, with the aim of building a productive labour market that can absorb national talent and support economic and social development.