MUSCAT – The Ministry of Labour plans to create 33,000 job opportunities for Omanis in the private sector in 2026, forming the largest share of a broader 60,000-job employment programme under the Sultanate’s Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), the Ministry said.

“When replacement, wage-supported and training-linked schemes are included, private-sector-related employment opportunities in 2026 could reach up to 50,000,” said Khalid bin Salem Al Ghamari, Undersecretary for Labour.

The remaining opportunities will include 10,000 jobs in the government sector and 17,000 positions through national training and qualification programmes linked to employment, aimed at strengthening workforce readiness and aligning skills with labour market needs.

The announcement was made during the Ministry’s annual media meeting, which reviewed key achievements over the past year and outlined future directions for labour market development and human resources policy.

Officials said the employment targets fall within the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, which comprises 17 strategic programmes across three priorities, with 12 programmes dedicated to labour market and employment development. These initiatives are designed to respond to future labour market trends, enhance private-sector participation, and support sustainable economic growth.

Reviewing recent performance, the Ministry said 36,413 job opportunities were provided in 2025, alongside 15,069 vocational training opportunities linked to employment and replacement. In addition, 18 sectoral committees announced the provision of 13,000 job opportunities, while the freelance labour system registered 2,300 professions and facilitated the placement of more than 4,000 Omanis in technical and leadership roles.

More than 4,000 Omani citizens were employed within a single year through the Tawteen digital platform, the Ministry added.