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Oman starts survey on jobs, leisure and public services

Oman starts survey on jobs, leisure and public services

Muscat Daily9 hours ago

Muscat – The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has launched a nationwide public opinion survey to gauge the views of Omani citizens on employment, recreation, and public services, including tourism and sports.
The phone-based survey, which runs from June 15 to June 24, targets Omani nationals aged 18 and above across all governorates. It aims to gather reliable data on issues that impact daily life in the sultanate and contribute to the formulation of development policies grounded in public sentiment.
According to NCSI, the survey covers three key areas: the labour market, sports and recreational preferences, and satisfaction with tourism services available across the country.
Suad bint Abdullah al Maawali, Director of the Information Reports Department at NCSI, said the initiative is designed to capture citizen feedback on the employment sector and identify the types of recreational and sporting activities people engage in. It also aims to assess satisfaction levels with tourism services in different governorates.
The project is part of wider efforts to ensure national development initiatives are guided by current and comprehensive data. Citizens are encouraged to participate and provide candid responses to help shape future strategies.
Officials noted that the findings will play a pivotal role in evaluating and refining initiatives aligned with Oman Vision 2040, with a focus on improving public services and enhancing overall quality of life.

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An agile and adaptive workforce is important for stimulating innovation, increased productivity, and global market competitiveness. In Oman, workforce development mitigates the challenges of ensuring that the economic returns from industrialization and foreign direct investments are retained domestically, thus promoting employment opportunities, income, and social development. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 1. Improving the Education System and Vocational Training: A strong education system and vocational training offer a solid base for workforce capability enhancement. Oman is improving educational coverage. However, the alignment of educational content with labor market requirements still needs more attention. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): The TVET has to be comprehensive and aligned with high priority growth areas like energy, logistics, tourism, and information technology. 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The program has led to the employment of thousands of Omanis in oil and gas, logistics, and facilities management sectors. Duqm Special Economic Zone: The Duqm SEZ is a center for industrial diversification. Construction, logistics, and energy training institutes within the zone collaborate with relevant industries to develop tailored curricula. These initiatives ensure that the economic development translates into benefits for the local population and fully supports the ICV objectives. National Employment Program (NEP): To address unemployment, the NEP has sought to enhance the skills of job seekers, connect them to private sector jobs, and even encourage them to become self-employed. The NEP utilizes labor market information to design appropriate training courses and improve workforce preparedness. 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ICV SCORECARD IMPROVEMENTS To make sure that workforce development stays at the top of the agenda, the ICV scorecard could also include: • Points for the setting up of the training centers • Bonus for gender inclusivity for trainers and trainees • Recognized for outstanding performance in knowledge management CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS • Skills Mismatch: Many graduates do not meet employers' expectations because the programs offered by institutions do not cater to job market demands. • Perceptions of Certain Occupations: Several segments of the population hold negative stereotypes associated with certain technical or service occupations. • Limited Engagement From Private Sector: A number of private organizations place an emphasis on immediate cost-saving measures rather than investing in long term workforce training and development. RECOMMENDATIONS • Curriculum Changes: Development and implementation of an active feedback loop for employer and industry input will ensure regular updates. • National Campaigns: Addressing and changing the negative stereotypes associated with various forms of work. • Employer Engagement Encouragement: Reduction in fiscal obligations for business that spend heavily on training and developing their local workforce. The project serves to bolster Islamic values by emphasizing the positive attributes of Oman's workforce as a whole, especially focusing on its resourcefulness, inclusivity, and global adaptability. As Oman looks to position itself alongside the rest of the globe in order to take advantage of emerging trends in green energy, digital transformation, and even artificial intelligence, it's important for the nation to proactively prepare its citizens for the workforce alongside the challenges and opportunities of the future. 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