Muscat, January 12, 2026: Oman has launched a major national employment initiative for 2026, aiming to generate 60,000 new job opportunities for citizens as part of broader economic and social reforms driven by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s directives. The comprehensive plan was announced by the Ministry of Labor and reflects a strategic effort to accelerate employment growth while aligning workforce skills with future economic needs.
why jobs in Oman matter now
Oman, like many Gulf economies, is diversifying its economy and seeking to boost job creation beyond public sector recruitment. The new plan emerges amid the launch of the Eleventh Five‑Year Development Plan (2026–2030), which places job creation, income growth and workforce readiness at the center of national economic transformation under Oman Vision 2040.In addition, royal directives released around the Sultan’s sixth accession anniversary highlighted employment alongside welfare support and economic stability measures, demonstrating high‑level political commitment to job‑related reforms.
What Oman’s 60,000 jobs plan involves
According to official statements, the new strategy is based on a detailed assessment of labor market needs and a strengthened partnership between the government, state‑owned enterprises and the private sector. It also emphasizes linking education and training outputs with labor market demand, which is a key move to reduce skills gaps and boost competitiveness.The job opportunities are structured as follows:
- 10,000 jobs in the government sector, covering civil, military and security roles based on real workforce needs.
- 17,000 jobs through government support tracks, including wage support schemes, training‑linked employment and on‑the‑job learning programs designed to enhance job readiness and sustainable workforce entry.
- 33,000 jobs in the private sector, making it the primary driver of employment and economic growth. These span major and diversified sectors such as industry, oil and gas, transport and logistics, tourism, banking, health, education, real estate, IT, telecommunications, food security, mining, retail and construction.
The plan’s design emphasizes quality, sustainability and future orientation, rather than just numerical targets. Clear performance indicators, strong governance and regular monitoring are intended to ensure the jobs translate into lasting career pathways for Omani citizens.Analysts say that the initiative goes beyond simply creating roles. It is about upgrading the skill set of the Omani workforce in line with emerging economic trends. The integration between employment policies and education and training frameworks is a strategic shift aimed at boosting labor market resilience amid technological change and diversification pressures.
Oman’s Bold National Jobs Strategy: 60,000 Opportunities Set for 2026
This aligns with broader reforms introduced in recent years, including last year’s push for AI‑friendly workforce management systems and increased emphasis on employment preparation programs, which already helped Oman exceed job targets in 2024. The 60,000‑job goal is part of a much larger economic picture.According to reports on the Eleventh Five‑Year Plan, Oman is targeting hundreds of thousands of new jobs over the next five years, with an RO 500 million annual labor market budget and long‑term goals to create about 700,000 opportunities across both public and private sectors over the Plan period. This push to boost employment also responds to long‑term demographic trends: external economic forecasts previously suggested Oman will need to create over 220,000 jobs by 2032 to meet growing workforce participation demands.
Voices from Oman leadership
Dr Mahad bin Said Baawain, Oman’s Minister of Labour, has framed the initiative as part of His Majesty’s “forward‑looking vision” to build a balanced and competitive economy powered by Omani talent. He stressed that the plan seeks not just to provide jobs but to ensure they are linked to training, qualification and future‑oriented sectors.
Oman’s domestic worker regulations ensure safety, fairness, and professionalism, protecting workers while guiding employers on their responsibilities / Image courtesy of the Ministry of Labour, Oman
He also highlighted that employment is a shared national responsibility, calling for broad cooperation across government, business and educational institutions to make the initiative successful and impactful. As implementation unfolds throughout 2026, Oman’s employment strategy will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as it represents a test case in how resource‑dependent economies can transition toward diversified, knowledge‑intensive job markets.If successful, the plan could significantly reduce unemployment, enhance economic participation among Omanis and contribute to broader social stability and prosperity under Vision 2040.
