Gender representation in Oman’s employment market is all set to witness a shift with more women expected to join the workforce in the coming years.
Data shows a paradigm shift in the job pattern with the percentage of female job-seekers rising above 60 per cent compared with men since the beginning of this year.
Amid a sharp fall in the total number of job-seekers in the first three months of the current year, there were only 12,216 male candidates, while the number of females reached 22,030 during the period.
In fact, it is arguable that women will in the near term will hold a great proportion of jobs in Oman.
Figures from the Ministry of Manpower show there has been a 10 per cent fall in the number of job applicants in the first quarter. Which means more youths are taking up jobs in the private sector.
Experts attribute the fall to the present shift in economic scenario in the country. According to Shahswar al Balushi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Society for Contractors, a major reason for the fall is the result of the new job definition given in the Tanfeedh. “Also it is likely that many of those who registered to get jobs in 2016 might have turned to self-employment. Many of the aspirants might also have had jobs in sectors like agriculture or fisheries,” he said. There were 43,858 native job-seekers in the first three months of 2016, while the number came down to 34,246 in the same period this year.
Technical education has aided youths to start their own businesses. A recent survey conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Information found 63 per cent of women believe their educational qualifications are commensurate with the requirements of the labour market.
The survey showed the search for work is the most important future plan for 55 per cent of students of higher education after course completion as against 21 per cent, who believe that going for a higher qualification outside the Sultanate is the major plan. The number of students admitted into technical colleges during the academic year reached 69,930 in 2016-17. Of these, 64.1 per cent were males and 35.9 per cent females. The number of students who enrolled into technical colleges during the same academic year was approximately one-third of the total number of students admitted into institutions of higher education.
SAMUEL KUTTY
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