Thursday 18 / April / 2024
MUSCAT: More women are looking for jobs than men according to the latest data posted by the Public Authority for Manpower Registry (PAMR). As of 29 January 2017, 64 percent of the total 56,617 registered job seekers are women, according to data, where 36,252 women are looking for work compared to 20,365 men.
North Al Batinah Governorate recorded the most number of women searching for jobs with 8,132 registered with the authority followed by Muscat and South Al Batinah Governorate with 4,401 and 4,380 respectively.
New graduates expect high salaries and are unwilling to accept low paying jobs, Fatima Al Salami, member of the Omani Women’s Association Seeb, remarked.
“Graduates believe they should be able to afford a car and an apartment when they get a job, but they won’t accept a low salary. Women have husbands, or parents and brothers, who spend on them. So a low salary might not be a huge concern to them,” said Al Salami.
Second income
“Others might need a second income in their family.
Their husbands’ salaries might not be enough, but they are finding it hard to land a job that could provide them with the flexibility of handling a career and a family,” she explained.
Farhat Sheikh, Human Resources Officer at Elite HR Services and Solutions, mentioned that organisations were looking at how flexible and willing a prospective employee is to take on tasks that require travelling, long hours and late shifts.
“The employer will think about, ‘Are you comfortable travelling to locations for two to three months outside the country for a project?’, work on holidays and take on late night shifts. Most women do not accept such conditions, while men do not mind them,” said Sheikh.
Women need to take care of their career, as well as their families at home. Seldom do you find women working late shifts, unless they have been doing it for some time before, and their husbands do not mind it,” she noted,adding that culture plays an important role.
Internship
Omani national Balqees Al Balushi is an active job seeker, who is looking for an internship to gain work experience by the time she graduates. It is difficult to find a job, if a woman puts restrictions on herself, such as not accepting the specified salary, she noted.
“In general, men are more favoured for jobs, as they are natural providers. But women could get hired by a company if they are more flexible,” said Al Balushi.
“I am looking for jobs right now, and I do not mind a low salary. I have to provide for my family,” she added.
According to data, 16,493 women hold a university degree, compared to 3,338 men, while 10,519 women hold a general education diploma (GED), compared to 7,945 males who hold the same.
Farhat advised women to take on jobs that allow them to work from home as freelancers and entrepreneurs, so that they can simultaneously focus on their career and family.
“There are multiple jobs out there where women can work from home – they must be active and engaged. Being employed does not mean working full time from 9 to 5; it means being engaged and utilising your skills and competency. You can work as a part-time recruiter, content writer and freelancer, among others,” advised Farhat, adding that women can work out a work schedule with employers and organisations.
