Exploring the Factors Influencing Omani Job Seekers’ Reluctance to Join the Private Sector

Objectives: This study seeks to investigate the reasons behind young Omani job seekers’ reluctance to work in the private sector and to predict the factors influencing their unwillingness. Methods: The study uses the descriptive analytical method. An online questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the factors influencing Omani youth’s reluctance to work in the private sector. The study’s purposive sample consists of 13,475 Omani men and women, including 53.5% male and 46.5% female job seekers from various governorates of the Sultanate. Results: The findings reveal that 88.2% of young Omani job seekers prefer to work in the public sector, compared to only 11.6% who prefer to work in the private sector. The study shows that their hesitation to work in the private sector is attributed to psychological, professional, economic, and personal factors. It also demonstrates that low-income families with ten or more members, single males with a bachelor’s degree, and those in the age range of (25-29) years are the most likely to work in the private sector. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that the public sector is still the preferred employer among job seekers in Oman. In addition, it shows that the variables that influence job seekers’ reluctance to work in the private sector include gender, age, marital status, number of family members, educational level, field of expertise, and family income.