Muscat: A total of 1,708 Omanis were employed during this period, comprising 1,145 males and 563 females, bringing the total number of Omani workers in the sector to 30,993.

The Ministry of Labour originally set a goal of employing 1,000 Omanis this year, a target that was not only met but exceeded by a substantial margin.
Dr. Ahmed bin Khalfan Al Badawi, Director of the Industrial Strategy Implementation and Evaluation Department and Head of the Employment File Team at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, stressed that the next phase will witness a greater focus on localizing technical and specialized jobs in the industrial sector, as the Ministry is working to enhance professional specializations to develop the technical skills of the national workforce in this sector, which reflects the Ministry’s strategic directions to invest in national cadres by implementing 265 initiatives in cooperation with development partners.

This progress aligns with Oman’s Industrial Strategy 2040, launched in mid-2024 with royal endorsement. The strategy has already generated positive outcomes, with 125 initiatives directly tied to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, while the remaining 140 initiatives are being executed by other relevant authorities.

Dr. Al Badawi emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to fostering industries across three main sectors: natural resource-based, capital-intensive, and knowledge-based industries. These efforts aim to establish high-tech industries, enhance entrepreneurship, and boost innovation.

Through the “Tawteen” platform and governance committees, the Ministry continues to align employment efforts with the aspirations of the National Employment Program, ensuring that educational and professional outputs match the needs of the growing industrial landscape.