The Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2024 reported that the Sultanate’s working age population aged 15 and over stands at 346,800 persons.
Of these, 64 per cent (233,800 persons) participate in the labour force while the remaining 36 per cent (131,000 persons) are outside labour force.
Employment increased by 2.8 per cent, rising from 216,700 persons in 2023 to 222,700 persons in 2024.
Local workers constitutes 71.3 per cent of the employed population. In line with this progress, the unemployment rate has declined from 5.2 per cent to 4.8 per cent for individuals aged 15 and over.
Meanwhile, for those aged 18 and over, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.1 per cent in 2023 to 4.7 per cent in 2024. The survey data indicates that job growth was primarily driven by the private sector, which saw a four-per-cent increase in employment compared to a 0.3-per-cent increase in the public sector.
According to the results of the 2024 Quarterly Survey of Businesses, notable growth was observed in the wholesale and retail trade, food services, manufacturing (Petrochemical), information and communication technology, and professional, technical, administrative and support services sectors.
An increase in self-employment was also observed reflecting a shift towards entrepreneurial activities and a gig economy supported by digital platforms.
In line with the growth of employment in the private sector, the data also shows that the private sector continues to be a major contributor to job opportunities.
The ratio of the workforce in the private sector was 70 per cent compared to 30 per cent in the public sector.
The report is available on the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics’ website.
