Muscat – As of the end of April 2024, Oman’s unemployment rate was at 2.6 percent, marking a decrease from 2.8 percent recorded in March.

This decline reflects improvements in employment opportunities across various demographics and educational backgrounds.

Gender: The unemployment rate for males dropped to 1.1 percent in April, down from 1.2 percent in March. However, females still face a higher unemployment rate despite a marginal fall from 9.2 percent to 8.3 percent during the same period.

Jobseekers with higher education qualifications saw a slight improvement. The unemployment rate for those holding higher education diplomas decreased to 8.5 percent from 9.2 percent, while the rate for Bachelor’s degree holders fell to 7.3 percent from 8 percent. Similarly, unemployment rates for individuals with general education diplomas and Master’s/Doctorate degrees also witnessed minor declines.

Education – The highest concentration of jobseekers is within the 15-24 age group (8.6 percent), followed by the 25-29 age group (5.3 percent). The unemployment rate decreased with age, with those aged 40 and above experiencing the lowest rates.

As far as governorate wise breakdown is concerned, Musandam and Dhahirah governorates have the highest unemployment rates at 4.9 percent, while Muscat exhibits the lowest rate at 1.2 percent. Other governorates fall within a range of 2.3 percent to 3.6 percent.