Muscat: The number of Omani women employed in the private sector in 2019 was 70,565 - a figure which is up by 5,502 compared to the previous year.
The number is climbing in the government sector as well by 781, with 83,175 ladies employed at various government offices in 2019. Information shared by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) throws light on a paradigm shift in the job spheres that were hitherto not so hot in women’s job-radar. The report also indicated that, of the total workforce in the government sector, 42 per cent are women and 26.6 per cent in the private sector.
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Omani women are a formidable force to reckon with in taking the nation in its forward trajectory and the inclusion of two women ministers and four women undersecretaries, as announced recently through Royal Decrees, further reiterates the fact.
The industries whose workforce comprise more women than men include education, human health and social work activities, and what is mentioned in the report as other service activities. Omani women were neck to neck in the spheres of financial and insurance activities as well as information and communication. A sizeable number of them are also present as directors, managers as well as in administration.
Outnumbering men
Collating the data as shared in the yearbook, it is interesting to note that the number of Omani women outnumber Omani men in clerical positions and are fast catching up in sales positions. While a small section of women started working as early as twenty years of age, majority of them employed were in the age group of 30 to 34 closely followed by those in the 35 to 39 age group. Omani ladies in the 25 to 29 age group were third in this list.
In the government sector, those in 30 to 34 years age group made up for the majority of the employed Omani women, and in private sector women in 25 to 29 age group lead the number in employed (Omani) women force. The number of Omani women above 35 years reduced progressively in the private sector with the least number of women working, in the 65 years plus category. Another positive indicator is that the vast majority of Omani women employed in government sector are university graduates, followed by diploma holders. The corresponding figure for private sector indicate that most of them started working after their secondary school.
