7.1% of higher education diploma holders are job seekers

MUSCAT: The rate of job-seekers among holders of higher education diplomas in the Sultanate of Oman stood at 7.1 per cent in June 2026, the highest among all educational levels, according to the latest Monthly Statistical Bulletin issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The data showed that the rate among holders of General Education Diplomas or equivalent qualifications stood at 3.4 per cent, while those without a General Education Diploma recorded a rate of 0.7 per cent. The rate among holders of master’s and doctoral degrees stood at 0.5 per cent.

The bulletin highlighted disparities in job-seeker rates by gender and educational attainment. Among higher education diploma holders, the rate among females stood at 14.4 per cent, compared with 2.7 per cent among males. Among bachelor’s degree holders, the rate was 12.4 per cent for females, compared with 1.3 per cent for males.

For holders of General Education Diplomas or equivalent qualifications, the rate stood at 7.4 per cent among females and 2.5 per cent among males. Among holders of master’s and doctoral degrees, the rate was 1.1 per cent for females and 0.3 per cent for males.

By age group, those aged 15–24 recorded the highest job-seeker rate in June at 13.2 per cent, compared with 13.6 per cent in May. This was followed by those aged 25–29 at 4.3 per cent and the age group 30–34 at 2.4 per cent.

The rate among those aged 35 to 39 stood at 1.2 per cent, while the 40-and-above age group recorded the lowest rate at 0.6 per cent. Among young people aged 15–24, the job-seeker rate stood at 15.2 per cent for females and 12.5 per cent for males.

Overall, the job-seeker rate in Oman stood at 2.4 per cent in June 2026, down from 2.5 per cent in May. The rate was 6.4 per cent among females, compared with 1.3 per cent among males.

At the governorate level, Al Dhahirah recorded the highest job-seeker rate in June at 4.6 per cent, followed by Al Batinah North at 3.4 per cent, Al Dakhiliyah at 3.3 per cent and Al Sharqiyah South at 3.1 per cent. Al Buraimi and Al Batinah South each recorded a rate of 3 per cent.

Al Sharqiyah North registered a rate of 2.8 per cent, followed by Dhofar at 2.2 per cent and Muscat at 1.1 per cent. Al Wusta recorded the lowest job-seeker rate among Oman’s governorates at 1 per cent.