Oman Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Oman's industry employment was 39.44% in 2025, ranked 181st globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Oman's industry employment stood at 39.44% in 2025, a decline of +0.07% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 39.12% by 2026. Oman ranked 181st globally.
Oman's share of its labour force employed in industry rose dramatically from a low of 7.36 percent in 1991 to a peak of 46.23 percent in 2018, reflecting the Sultanate’s aggressive diversification policies and large‑scale infrastructure projects that expanded manufacturing, mining and construction activities. The latest World Bank estimate for 2025 shows industry employment at 39.44 percent, placing Oman 181st globally and keeping it above regional peers such as Qatar (38.02 percent) and Bahrain (34.91 percent) while still lagging behind more industrialised economies. The steep ascent over the 35‑year series underscores the impact of government incentives, foreign direct investment and the development of free‑zone clusters, yet the modest decline from the 2018 high suggests a slowdown as the economy pivots toward services and tourism. Continued investment in high‑value manufacturing and the integration of renewable‑energy‑driven processes could sustain the upward trajectory, whereas a reversal of fiscal stimulus or global demand shocks would likely temper further gains in industrial employment.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 38.67% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 38.90% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 39.12% | - | - |
| 2025 | 39.44% | −0.07% | #181 |
| 2024 | 39.50% | −0.22% | #181 |
| 2023 | 39.72% | −0.30% | #183 |
| 2022 | 40.02% | −0.28% | #185 |
| 2021 | 40.30% | +6.60% | #185 |
| 2020 | 33.70% | −6.38% | #180 |
| 2019 | 40.09% | −6.14% | #185 |
| 2018 | 46.23% | +2.85% | #185 |
| 2017 | 43.37% | +2.50% | #185 |
| 2016 | 40.87% | +3.41% | #185 |
| 2015 | 37.46% | −0.09% | #184 |
| 2014 | 37.55% | −0.29% | #184 |
| 2013 | 37.84% | +0.00% | #185 |
| 2012 | 37.84% | +0.81% | #184 |
| 2011 | 37.03% | +0.15% | #183 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Oman matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2013. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Oman's industry employment was 39.44% in 2025. Ranked 181st globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Oman's industry employment peaked at 46.23% in 2018.
The lowest industry employment in Oman was 7.36% in 1991.
Oman ranks 181st globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Oman's industry employment is projected to reach 39.12% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Oman in 2025 was 39.44%. This ranks 181st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_oman_industry-employment,
title = {Oman Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/oman/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}