MUSCAT: Unemployment rate in Oman cooled down to 2.4% in September, according to the data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) shows. 

The drop in unemployment rate comes after the government took several measures in creating job opportunities in public and private sector last month. Interestingly, the annual jobseekers rate also dropped to 17%, while the rate for September dropped to 25%, according to the data. 

On Sunday, the Ministry of Labour announced 332 new job opportunities in private sector for job seekers who have not worked previously in any organisation. 

In a statement issued, the Ministry said the opportunities in the private sector will be part of the wage subsidy initiative.  

“The opportunities are divided into 243 jobs for university degree holders, 18 jobs for high diploma holders, 37 jobs for post-secondary diploma holders, 4 jobs for professional diploma holders, and 30 jobs for general education diploma holders,” Ministry of Labour said in a statement. 

The initiative will also subsidise the wages of these employees for a period of two years to the tune of OMR 200, provided that the employer bears the difference, and that the employment is at least for a period equal to the period of government support. The initiative is based on the decision issued by His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to recruit Omani citizens. 

“We urge private sector institutions to employ Omanis,” the statement added.