Omanis are reporting a growing disconnect between their job requirements and the preparation they have received for those requirements through their education, compared to foreign workers, according to the preliminary findings of Qudurat research.
The findings were announced recently by Aon Hewitt, the global human resources business of Aon plc. Omanis are also keen to bridge the gap between their educational preparation and job requirements, the survey noted.
The study was first launched in 2011 and produced many counter-intuitive findings which surprised and challenged the preconceptions employers had in the region about local talent and nationals in the workforce.
Among the most unexpected findings were that Omanis reported lower levels of engagement in the public sector than they did in the private sector, and that less than half had confidence in the most senior leadership in their respective organisations.
In addition, Omanis continue to report lower levels of work engagement than expatriates, which could impact their longer term motivation, performance and productivity at the workplace. The report shows similar results for nationals across all seven countries involved in the study, according to the release.
Qudurat is the largest workplace study in the region, focused on the advancement of national talent, the single biggest HR issue in the region, the press release said. Qudurat, which means ‘capabilities’ in Arabic, voices the opinion of more than 20,000 employees across UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt. With final results expected to be announced region-wide by December, insights from the study are expected to significantly impact HR practices and human capital development in the region.
Commenting on the initial findings, Radhika Punshi, Aon Hewitt’s head of Applied Research, MENA, said, “As Oman’s and the region’s economy continues to recover, there will be a renewed and exponential growth focus on attracting, motivating and retaining top talent within all industrial sectors, with a greater emphasis on quality. However, more than ever before, there is a greater urgency for alignment and collaboration between the education system and the demand from employers, as an increasing number of young men and women seek opportunities for positive and productive employment.
“Our early findings point to a pressing mismatch between education and employment, significantly impacting the motivation, expectations and preparedness of current and future employees towards their jobs. On a more positive note, the fact that there is an awareness among Omanis of this mismatch points towards a willingness to address this problem.”
