Beyond unemployment: strategic registration, motivation and sustainable labour management in Oman

Purpose This study examines the motivations, employment status, and behavioural patterns of registered job seekers in A'Sharqiyah North Governorate, Oman, highlighting discrepancies between official unemployment statistics and actual job-seeking behaviour. Design/methodology/approach Using a mixed-methods design, the study analyzes Ministry of Labor data (n = 7,670) and 15 qualitative interviews with job seekers, employers, and officials. Analyses included descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling to explore predictors of strategic registration behaviour. Findings Many registrants are not actively seeking employment, with a notable proportion already employed, self-employed, or registering to access government benefits. This strategic registration inflates unemployment figures and affects the accuracy of policy evaluations. Research limitations/implications Findings are based on one governorate and a small qualitative sample, limiting generalizability. Future research could extend the serious jobseeker index (SJI) nationally and examine its longitudinal applicability. Practical implications Policymakers should refine classification systems to distinguish serious from passive job seekers, align vocational programs with labour market needs, and improve the targeting and evaluation of employment policies. Social implications The study highlights cultural preferences for public-sector jobs and gender barriers affecting women's participation, emphasizing the need for policies promoting equity and inclusive employment opportunities. Originality/value By introducing a preliminary operational SJI with initial evidence of criterion validity, the study offers a structured approach for distinguishing levels of job-seeking activity while recognizing that the index requires future longitudinal validation.