Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has announced that more than 1,000 Omanis gained employment in the transport and logistics sector during the first quarter of 2025. This achievement is part of the Ministry's wider efforts throughout the year to improve job prospects for Omani citizens in the transport, logistics, and information technology fields. In the initial three months of the year, 1,450 Omanis secured positions in various roles within transport and logistics, while an additional 236 found employment in different areas of the information technology sector. The Ministry also highlighted a notable reduction in the percentage of expatriate workers in these sectors.
The Ministry has established goals to employ around 4,950 Omanis in the transport and logistics sector and approximately 430 in the information technology sector by the end of 2025. Remarkably, the targeted Omanisation rate of 21 percent for transport and logistics was achieved in the first quarter. The Ministry aims to attain a 10 percent Omanisation rate in technical, specialized, and leadership roles within this sector by year-end. For the IT sector, the goal is a 63 percent overall Omanisation rate, with 41 percent representation of Omani employees in technical, specialized, and leadership positions. These objectives are being pursued through the implementation of various policies, regulations, and initiatives aimed at regulating the labor market and employment in both sectors.
The Ministry has implemented a range of policies and regulations tailored for the IT sector, which includes the Omanisation of specific specialized IT professions. Additionally, a new initiative has been launched to finance and support the salaries of Omanis working in specialized IT roles and projects, alongside the establishment of mandatory Omanisation quotas for government projects and procurement processes. The Ministry has also created opportunities for freelance work for Omanis, offering training and qualifications aimed at enabling income-generating freelance activities in IT. Moreover, on-the-job training opportunities associated with investment projects in the IT sector have been made available. The National Initiative for Digital Skills Development (Makeen) continues to provide training and qualification programs designed to boost the competitiveness of Omanis in the technical job market, with 990 trainees benefiting in the first quarter of 2025.
In the transport and logistics industry, the Ministry has implemented various policies and regulations, including mandatory Omanisation rates for consultants collaborating with the Ministry and a 20 percent Omanisation goal for supervisory roles in last-mile delivery. Specific Omanisation targets have also been set for executive and leadership positions within this sector. Training initiatives linked to employment opportunities in transport and logistics have been introduced, alongside monitoring and inspection campaigns conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Labour to tackle issues related to irregular workers. The collaboration with the Ministry of Labour also aims to regulate the issuance of permits for jobs in the maritime sector, necessitating approval from the Labour Market Regulatory Committee for essential roles. Currently, around 210 Omanis are participating in employment-related training programs in the transport and logistics field, and a dedicated training course was held for 52 Omani truck drivers in partnership with the Oman Logistics Association. Additionally, initiatives like the Omani Wage Support Initiative and the freelance work program are aiding Omani youth in entering the IT job market. A contract with Awaser Company has generated 58 freelance job opportunities, and an on-the-job training program has successfully prepared 50 Omanis for semiconductor projects.
