Expert: Youth unemployment exceeds 40% despite official drop in Jordan

• Jordan’s reported unemployment rate dropped to 16.2 percent, but the real rate for citizens barely changed.
• Youth unemployment exceeds 40 percent, and women’s unemployment is around 30 percent.
• Government policies focus on private sector growth but fail to create quality, lasting jobs.

The recent announcement by the Department of Statistics that Jordan’s unemployment rate has dropped to 16.2 percent has raised questions about how accurately this figure reflects the realities of the labor market. Critics point out that young people, women, and recent graduates continue to face high unemployment despite the overall decline.

Ahmad Awad, director of the Phenix Center for Economics & Informatics Studies, described the statistics as “normal” compared to previous periods, noting that the rate for Jordanians specifically fell only marginally, from 21.5 percent last year to 21.4 percent this year, a difference he said falls “within the normal margin of error” for surveys.

He explained that the reported decrease largely reflects the inclusion of non-Jordanian workers, who enjoy higher employment rates, creating a gap between the total and the reality for Jordanian citizens.

Awad highlighted particularly concerning figures for youth and women:

• Youth unemployment exceeds 40 percent.
• Women’s unemployment stands at around 30 percent.

“These indicators reflect significant challenges for new graduates,” he said, stressing that even harsh statistical data provides a more accurate picture than popular impressions.

Criticizing government efforts over the past decade, Awad called policies “insufficient,” noting that initiatives largely focused on stimulating the private sector without guaranteeing quality jobs. Many positions remain temporary, uninsured, or low-quality, and programs like “Istidama” often end once government support stops. He also pointed out that economic growth has been concentrated in low-employment sectors like services and finance, while labor-intensive fields such as agriculture and industry lag behind.

Awad emphasized that educational policies have compounded the problem. “The massive expansion in university education without considering market needs has created a surplus in fields like medicine, engineering, and law, while demand exists for technical and vocational skills in agriculture, construction, and IT,” he said.

He concluded with a stark warning, “If we don’t reform education toward technical and vocational training, unemployment will remain high, leaving an army of graduates without jobs. We must restructure the education system to address labor market needs and reduce unemployment significantly.”