Gulf | Oman
Taskforce to tackle gas sector's 'talent crisis'
The Ministry of Manpower will set up a Talent Management Taskforce to help companies in the oil, gas and related sectors to address the acute shortage of professional talent in the country, according to Manpower Minister Dr Jumaa Bin Ali Al Jumaa.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:52 May 11, 2008
Muscat: The Ministry of Manpower will set up a Talent Management Taskforce to help companies in the oil, gas and related sectors to address the acute shortage of professional talent in the country, according to Manpower Minister Dr Jumaa Bin Ali Al Jumaa.
Speaking at a workshop on Talent Management, organised by the Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL) and the Achievement Centre-Middle East, the minister said the taskforce would help companies adopt best practices in addressing the "talent crisis" that has hit many organisations in the Sultanate, and around the world.
A joint survey by OPAL and the Achievement Centre has revealed that 98 per cent of respondents said they feared a worsening of the talent shortage over the next three to five years. Two-thirds said they were losing professional talent to the competition. Some 88 per cent said they needed more talent to fuel their business growth.
Paradox
The Minister urged companies to accord high priority to this issue.
"I am even more alarmed when I hear only 28 per cent of you have people in the pipeline to take over in case of business expansion or if someone leaves the company."
He called on the industry to address what he described as a labour market "paradox" in the country.
"On the one hand we have an acute shortage of talented manpower and on the other, we have sizeable youth unemployment. The reason for this paradox is the mismatch between the jobs available and the lack of skills of the unemployed."
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