MUSCAT: The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has confirmed a continued decline in Oman’s unemployment rate, which fell to 3.6 per cent by the end of November 2024 compared to 4.3 per cent in October and 4.7 per cent in September.
The data indicates that the unemployment rate among males dropped to 1.9 per cent by the end of November compared to 2.3 per cent in the previous month, while the rate for females decreased to 10.3 per cent, down from 12 per cent in October.
This decline is attributed to effective government policies aimed at providing job opportunities for citizens in both the public and private sectors. The Ministry of Labour announced the creation of numerous job opportunities during 2024, working closely with private sector institutions to offer roles that align with Omanis’ qualifications and skills. Efforts have also focused on enhancing training and development programmes to equip job seekers with the skills needed to meet market demands and contribute to economic growth.
The statistics revealed that the unemployment rate among bachelor’s degree holders decreased to 7.1 per cent by the end of November, down from 8.4 per cent in October. Similarly, the rate for higher diploma holders dropped to 8.9 per cent, compared to 10.4 per cent. The rate for general diploma holders declined to 6.5 per cent, while master’s and doctorate holders saw a reduction to 0.6 per cent compared to 0.7 per cent in the previous month.
By age group, the unemployment rate among those under 24 years decreased to 13.9 per cent by the end of November, down from 17.5 per cent in October. Among those aged 25–29, the rate fell to 6.1 per cent, while for the 30–34 age group, it dropped to 3.6 per cent. Older age groups recorded even lower rates, with the 35–39 age group at 2 per cent, and those aged 40 and above at just 1 per cent.
The highest unemployment rate was recorded in Al Dhahirah Governorate at 6.5 per cent, followed by Musandam Governorate at 5.9 per cent. Al Batinah North Governorate recorded 5.2 per cent, while Muscat Governorate had the lowest rate at 1.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, the total number of Omani employees in both the public and private sectors reached 848,932 by the end of November 2024, representing a 2.9 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Of these, 384,121 Omanis were employed in the public sector, 400,723 in the private sector, 62,088 in the family sector, and 1,981 in the charitable sector.
The data shows that most Omanis are employed in clerical roles, with 206,800 workers in this category. This is followed by 140,000 specialists in scientific, technical and humanities fields, and 125,200 employees working as administrative and business managers. Other occupations include engineering professionals (85,900 workers), service-related roles (86,000 workers), and agricultural, livestock and fishing jobs (49,800 workers).
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