Meeting Held in South Al Batinah to Foresight Labour Market Challenges

South al batinah: An expanded meeting was held in South Al Batinah Governorate as part of a series of field visits by the team preparing the Ministry of Labour's strategic plan, with the participation of a number of government and private entities, business institutions, and community members to foresight their aspirations and monitor the most prominent challenges and opportunities associated with the labour market, employment, and human resources development. According to Oman News Agency, participants emphasized the importance of building the strategic plan on a realistic assessment of the governorates' needs and the specificity of their economic sectors, as well as taking into account the nature of activities and the size of establishments when formulating policies and decisions related to the labor market. The meetings discussed aligning education outputs with labour market requirements, foresighting future specializations and skills, the quality and sustainability of job opportunities, developing Omani sation mechanisms, strengthening partnership with the private sector, and linking employment targets with investment and development projects across the governorates. Furthermore, participants stressed the importance of studying the economic and social impact of decisions prior to implementation, relying on accurate data to define labour market needs, enhancing government integration and streamlining procedures, ensuring clear legislation and implementation guidelines, and involving business owners in the early stages of decision-making related to the business and employment environment. The plan preparation team explained that these meetings represent a fundamental pillar of the participatory approach in preparing the Ministry's strategy through 2030, by documenting and analyzing stakeholder insights as core inputs for formulating strategic directions and priorities. This orientation comes to enhance the integration of roles among the government, the private sector, educational institutions, and society, aiming to achieve a more efficient, flexible, and sustainable labor market capable of keeping pace with future economic and technological transformations.