Survey to identify skills needed in economic sectors
Muscat, April 20
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation on Sunday launched the Employers Survey 2025. The project, being implemented by the Ministry's Department of Statistics and Information, seeks to study the compatibility of higher education outcomes with the requirements of the national labour market. In particular, the project will identify the skills and competencies required in various economic sectors.
The project deals with the collection of data on the first six months of the year (until June 30) from various establishments that have employed higher education graduates between 2018 and 2025.
Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, who patronised the event, said in comments about the project that it represents a fundamental pillar in devising educational policies and linking them to labour market needs in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. This, she observed, will help enhance the competitiveness of the national economy.
She emphasised that the project is a pioneering national initiative reflecting the Ministry's commitment to developing higher education policies closely aligned with labour market needs, thus achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and keeping pace with leading global practices. Her Excellency highlighted the crucial role of private sector institutions in the success of this project, noting that the analysis of the survey data will contribute to guiding higher education policies, developing academic programmes and ultimately enhancing business sustainability and productivity by providing a qualified workforce that meets market demands.
Maitha bint Dawood al Lawatiyah, Assistant Director of the Statistics and Information Department, explained that the updated version of the survey targets approximately 4,400 companies across various economic sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
She stated that the project aims to equip higher education graduates with the skills required by the labour market, reduce the gap between education and employment, and contribute to improving academic curricula in line with current and future labour market demands.
Qais al Haji, Director of Career Counseling and Alumni at the University of Nizwa, affirmed the University's continued support for such initiatives, expressing pride in the University's role as the Golden Sponsor of the project. He said: 'The University of Nizwa firmly believes in the importance of these surveys in enriching educational institutions with accurate data on labour market needs for various and evolving skills. Such efforts enable institutions to adopt modern strategies and adapt curricula to meet both local and global market changes, thereby contributing to the realisation of Oman Vision 2040.'
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