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WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2016 Given Oman’s substantial investment in education and national projects, recruiters and key stakeholders alike should consider employment challenges that Omanis face at the outset. This would allow employers to better identify and implement workable solutions Oman Employment Report–Insight for 2016
OMAN The Omani Youth on Employment EASE OF FINDING A JOB
How easy or difficult it is for an Omani to find a job in your country?
Young Omanis aged between 16 and 29 were asked about the employment in Oman. While they look jobs in the public sector, their ideal job role is to run their own business. Also they prefer the oil and gas industry to others and think that the private sector is also important. Most of them think that it’s not really difficult to find a job but the working hours are too long. (All figures are in percentage)
INDUSTRY OF CHOICE
%
SURVEY SAMPLE BREAKDOWN 300 young Omani nationals were surveyed. Their characteristics:
By Region
By Gender
Muscat
Male Female
EMPLOYERS OF CHOICE
By Age 46 6 5 54
By Sector
Aged between 16 and 21
Working in private sector or family businesses
Aged between 22 and 29
Working in government
IDEAL JOB ROLE
LEAST FAVOURED INDUSTRY
IMPORTANCE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Which are the top five organisations you would ideally like to work for in the future?
Very easy
Government/Public Sector
Public Sector, Government, Ministry or Municipality
Running my own business
Aerospace
Fairly easy
Banking and Finance
Royal Court Affairs
Administration
Aviation
Very important
Neither easy nor difficult
Oil and Gas
Oman Air
Business Leader
Media
Somewhat important
Fairly difficult
Aviation
Muscat Bank
Join Family Business
Real Estate
Of little importance
Construction
Real Estate
Petroleum Dev. Oman
Engineering
Computers/IT
Omantel
Accountancy
Construction
Oman National Bank
Human Resources
Health Care
Galfar Construction
Caring for others
Telecommunications
Hospital
Banking and Finance
Industrial
International Marble Co.
Teacher or Lecturer
Media
Central Bank of Oman
Customer Service
Aerospace
Orpic
IT/Computing
Utility
D X Construction
Journalism or Media
Tourism and hospitality
Oman Insurance Company
Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
Defence and Security
CAD Middle East
Military
Which of the following industries would you least like to work in?
Sur
Which of the following industries would you most like to work in?
Very difficult 1
What would be your ideal role in the future?
Sohar 5 52
How important is the private sector for the employment of Omanis in your country? Extremely important
Not important at all 1
Manufacturing Banking and Finance Agriculture
DIFFICULTY IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT What difficulties (if any) do Omanis face in finding jobs?
Defence and Security Hours are too long Industrial Pay is too low Computers/IT Not enough suitable jobs Government/Public Sector Don’t hear about jobs Tourism and hospitality
Shipping
Abu Dhabi Bank
Retail
Retail
Nationals don’t want to employ nationals Don’t know enough good contacts Expats don’t want to employ nationals Don’t know how to do an interview Don’t know how to write a CV Don’t want to work just with expats Don’t know how to approach companies for jobs
Chemical/Pharmaceutical
British Petroleum
Tourism and hospitality
Oil and Gas
No difficulties
Legal Shipping Health Care
Legal
School
Medical role
Manufacturing
Oman Airports
Lawyer or Legal Advisor
Utility
Retail
Al Naba Construction
Police
Chemical/Pharmaceutical
Telecommunications
Source: 2016 Oman Employment Report — Dr. Najat Benchiba-Savenius, Robert Mogielnicki, Scott Owens, Professor Scott-Jackson (Oxford Strategic consulting)
3 3 Graphics
Money main mover for job seekers TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI
tariqh@timesofoman.com
Surveying 300 Omanis who are less than 30 years old, the Oman Employment Report–Insight for 2016 report, aims to offer insights underpinning the current aspirations of Omanis
MUSCAT: Money seems to be the most common motivator while considering taking a job, the Oman Employment Report–Insight for 2016, which was recently published by Oxford Strategy Consulting, indicated. Surveying 300 Omanis who are less than 30 years old, the report aims to “offer insights underpinning the current aspirations of Omanis, which will serve as a useful tool for both private and public sectors, as well as government and organisations.” The survey covered their motivations, perceptions of best employers, their ideal job role, the best way for employers to attract
nationals, the most and least attractive employment sectors, the importance of the private sector and difficulties faced while searching for jobs. According to the survey, 76 per cent said that money was the top motivator while accepting a job. Those working in the private sector showed that they were more likely motivated by money than employees in the government sector. “It is important to remember that money offers stability and security and this is especially true in Oman’s traditional social context. Money may bring social prestige but it also reflects great responsibility,” said the report. Omanis are also motivated by challenges and travel, which account for 28 per cent, development 23 per cent and
influences 22 per cent. When the survey asked about their ideal job role, unsurprisingly most answered ‘run my own business,’ which translates to 34 per cent. Following that, many wanted to work in administration, 28 per cent, serve as a business leader, which made up for 22 per cent and join a family owned business, which accounted for 17 per cent. “Rather than increase wages, the government should help Omani entrepreneurs make money for themselves. More Omanis ranked ‘running my own business’ as their ideal job role than any other role. This inclination toward entrepreneurism in the Sultanate can be tapped into to help transition Omanis away from public sector roles and towards private sector
enterprises,” said the report. “In order to maximise investment in entrepreneurism, high-potential entrepreneurs who actually contribute to employment growth, known as ‘gazelles’ should be identified and supported by the government. Providing seed funding and early support for high-potential entrepreneurs is much more costeffective than employing the equivalent public sector employees for an entire career,” it added. 38 per cent of Omanis said Aerospace is their least favoured job role, according to the report. Aviation is the second-least favourite with 20 per cent and following that was Media with 13 per cent. Real Estate and Construction followed, with both recording 10 per cent as being the least favourite.
The report also revealed the difficulties Omanis face while finding jobs. 41 per cent said the hours are too long when they are faced with finding a job. 35 per cent said the pay is too low, while 23 per cent said there aren’t enough suitable jobs. “In order to productively increase youth employment and sustain its momentum, matching jobs with established skill-sets is imperative to create an enabling work environment,” said the report. “Oxford Strategic Consulting found that four out of 10 respondents felt that the main difficulty Omanis faced in finding a suitable job was that the hours were deemed too long for what they considered was appropriate. In addition, third felt the pay was too low for their educational level.
ECONOMIC CHANGES
OCCI seminar weighs need for amending Labour Law ERIK PRINS
erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: There is a need to modify the Omani Labour Law to ease doing business in Oman and to meet the current economic changes, said business owners attending a seminar held at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) on Monday. The seminar, organised by the Human Resources and Labour Market Committee at OCCI, aims to discuss the current law and consider recommendations from Human Resource and Labour Department officials. Said bin Saleh Al Kiyumi, chairman of OCCI, said the labour law needs to be revised to ease the process of doing business in Oman. “The economic changes require us to change laws in general. Today, there’s an economic crisis and the laws do not go along with these changes. We need to amend the labour law together, with both employees and employers,” he stated. Business owners On the sidelines of the seminar, the Times of Oman spoke to a number of business owners. Ahmad Al Shaidani, owner of a local SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) said he is struggling with the Omanisation rate the labour law is demanding. “Our project is new, just a year old and the law needs us to reach 35 per cent Omanisation. This is difficult for us.” He further said SMEs should get a year’s respite to achieve the required Omanisation rate. “After that, Omanisation can be increased gradually to 5, 10 or 15 per cent. Not 35 per cent in the first year,” he said.
BRAINSTORMING: The seminar, organised by the Human Resources and Labour Market Committee at OCCI, aims to discuss the current law and consider recommendations from Human Resource and Labour Department officials. — Photo by Jun Estrada
Awadh Al Mahri, chairman of the Peaceland Group, said the current law caters too much to workers and not enough for employers. “The law is only there for the interest of the Omani worker. The aim (of the Ministry of Manpower) is to hire Omanis, give them more salary and give them more holidays. It does not aim to protect companies or to protect investments. He added that the law is a burden on employers, as well as foreign investors, who want to do business in Oman. “When a company hires Omanis, the law provides high salaries, which are not linked to their productivity. If foreign investors see this, they see it as a burden. They’ll think twice before investing in Oman,” he stated. He added that the law also does not protect investments. “There’s no law to protect investments.
Oman wants investment companies, but with this law, they cannot work in Oman,” he added. On the other hand, Ammar Rashid Al Aamri, administrator at a local company, said workers are not protected enough under the current law. “Business owners in my opinion should not focus on only one side. The problem is the national workforce. They will succeed if they are financially and spiritually supported by the business owners. The worker is the brick of organisations in the private sector. We invite the business owners to support Omani working youth and allow them more potential,” he said.
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