In a significant move to boost economic participation and diversify its economy, the Sultanate of Oman has launched an ambitious national employment initiative for the year 2026. Announced on January 12, 2026, from Muscat, the plan targets the creation of 60,000 new job opportunities for Omani citizens.
A Strategic Push Under Vision 2040
This comprehensive strategy is a direct result of the directives from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and forms a core part of the nation's broader economic and social reforms. The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Labour, is strategically timed with the launch of Oman's Eleventh Five‑Year Development Plan (2026–2030). It places job creation, income growth, and workforce readiness at the heart of the national transformation agenda under Oman Vision 2040.
Oman, like its Gulf neighbours, is actively working to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbon revenues and public sector employment. The new jobs plan underscores a high-level political commitment to this shift, a point reinforced by royal directives issued around the Sultan's sixth accession anniversary, which highlighted employment alongside welfare and economic stability measures.
Breaking Down the 60,000 Jobs Target
The plan is not a simple numbers game but is built on a detailed assessment of labour market needs. It emphasises quality, sustainability, and a future-oriented approach, backed by clear performance indicators and strong governance for monitoring. The job opportunities are structured across three primary tracks:
- 10,000 jobs in the government sector: These will cover civil, military, and security roles, allocated based on genuine workforce requirements.
- 17,000 jobs through government support programmes: This track includes wage support schemes, training-linked employment, and on-the-job learning programmes designed to enhance job readiness and ensure sustainable entry into the workforce.
- 33,000 jobs in the private sector: Positioned as the primary engine for employment and growth, these roles will span diversified sectors including industry, oil and gas, transport and logistics, tourism, banking, health, education, real estate, IT, telecommunications, food security, mining, retail, and construction.
A key strategic shift in this plan is the strengthened partnership between the government, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector. It also focuses on linking education and training outputs with actual market demand, a crucial step to reduce skills gaps and boost national competitiveness.
Part of a Larger Economic Vision
Analysts note that the 2026 initiative is about more than just creating roles; it's about systematically upgrading the skill set of the Omani workforce to align with emerging economic trends and technological changes. This aligns with recent reforms, including last year's push for AI-friendly workforce systems.
The 60,000-job target for 2026 is part of a much larger economic picture. Reports on the Eleventh Five-Year Plan indicate Oman aims to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs over the next five years. The plan includes an annual labour market budget of RO 500 million and long-term goals to generate approximately 700,000 opportunities across both public and private sectors by 2030. This push also responds to demographic trends, with external forecasts suggesting Oman will need over 220,000 new jobs by 2032 to meet growing workforce participation demands.
Dr Mahad bin Said Baawain, Oman's Minister of Labour, framed the initiative as part of His Majesty's "forward-looking vision" to build a balanced, competitive economy powered by national 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, calling employment a "shared national responsibility."
As implementation unfolds throughout 2026, Oman's employment strategy will be closely watched. If successful, it could significantly reduce unemployment, enhance economic participation, and contribute to the broader social stability and prosperity envisioned in Oman Vision 2040, setting a notable example for resource-dependent economies globally.
