10.6% rise in employment of Omani nationals: Report

Oman’s labour market made notable strides in 2024, reflecting the impact of continued government reforms, strategic investments, and the steady expansion of non-hydrocarbon sectors, according to the Central Bank of Oman’s Annual Report. 

The report shows that employment among Omani nationals increased by 10.6%, which is a major step forward in strengthening national workforce participation and improving job quality across the economy.

The bank noted that this growth is a result of targeted policies aimed at improving labour mobility, expanding vocational and skills-development programmes, and bringing wages more in line with productivity. 

A stronger push to prepare Omanis for future jobs, particularly in technology, digitalisation, and other fast-growing fields, has also lifted overall workforce readiness. These efforts align closely with the broader goals of Oman Vision 2040, which prioritises a competitive, knowledge-driven labour market led by national talent.

As national employment grew, expatriate employment fell by 1.0%, underscoring a continued structural shift as localisation policies gain momentum. This decline reflects ongoing initiatives to correct workforce imbalances and direct new opportunities toward Omani jobseekers, especially in high-demand sectors.

The public sector continued to anchor national employment, with Omanis making up 90.2% of its workforce in 2024, up from 89.5% a year earlier. The number of Omani public-sector employees rose by 4.0%, while expatriate employment declined by 3.2%. The report notes that the Government remains focused on boosting youth employment, strengthening skill development, and preparing young Omanis for emerging roles in digital and knowledge-based domains.

Momentum was strong in the private sector as well. Omani employment in private enterprises grew by 16.7%, raising the share of nationals to 18.6%, compared with 18.3% in 2023. Expatriate employment dipped by 0.9%, reflecting progress in making private-sector careers more attractive, competitive, and accessible to Omanis through training, upskilling, and structural reforms.

Large-scale infrastructure, industrial, and logistics projects played a major role in creating new jobs for nationals. Growth in manufacturing, services, and construction added further momentum, supported by a stable macroeconomic environment marked by low inflation and steady non-oil activity.

The labour market trends of 2024 point to solid, sustained progress toward building a more resilient and inclusive employment ecosystem. With ongoing reforms and sectoral development, Oman continues to move steadily toward the ambitions of Vision 2040—anchored in higher national workforce participation and a more diversified, future-ready economy.