OCCI committee reviews private sector labour market challenges

2026-03-07 - 17:37

Muscat – The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) has reviewed a range of challenges affecting employment in the private sector and discussed measures to enhance labour market efficiency in the sultanate. The issues were addressed during a meeting of the chamber’s Labour Market Committee chaired by Mohammed bin Hassan Al Ansi, Chairman of the Committee, last week. The meeting was attended by several committee members. Participants highlighted the importance of the current phase, which requires coordinated efforts and unified strategies among government institutions and the private sector to strengthen the labour market and support sustainable economic growth in Oman. The committee discussed the need to review and regulate the structure of the labour market in ways that encourage economic expansion and help generate new employment opportunities for Omani nationals. Members also emphasised the importance of empowering and regulating freelance work while protecting the sector from practices associated with hidden trade. Encouraging young Omanis to explore freelancing and entrepreneurship was identified as a key step in diversifying employment options. The meeting further addressed the role of vocational education and training as a major driver of job creation, particularly in technical and professional fields where demand in the labour market remains high. Committee members stressed the importance of developing vocational education pathways and aligning educational outcomes with the evolving needs of economic sectors in order to better prepare national talent for specialised roles required in the market.