IMF-阿曼劳动力市场动态_阿曼（英）-2025.4_14页_1mb

IMF Selected Issues Paper

Labor Market Dynamics in Oman

• Prepared by Bilal Tabti and Haytem Troug

Abstract

Oman needs to create over 220,000 jobs for nationals by 2032 due to demographic pressures and economic diversification efforts away from hydrocarbons. Key challenges include:

• Strong preference for public sector employment (security, remuneration)
• Significant private sector reliance on low-cost expatriate labor
• Education system lagging behind regional counterparts
• Low female labor participation rate (32% in 2023)
• Limited labor mobility restricting skill development

Policy Recommendations:

1. Narrow public-private wage gap by:
   • Aligning private sector wages with productivity
   • Reforming public employment system to focus on performance
2. Enhance skills matching through:
   • Reforms to education system (increase STEM focus)
   • Scale up active labor market policies
   • Implement dual-education system
3. Accelerate female labor force participation
4. Progressive reform of employment quotas
5. Increase labor mobility for expatriates

Source: IMF Selected Issues Paper (SIP/2025/034)