The Department of Statistics launched an analytical study titled “Jordanian Labor Market: Facts and Figures,” in cooperation with the World Bank and in active partnership with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

Haider Freihat, Director General of the Department of Statistics, emphasized the importance of this eight-month study aimed at analyzing the reality of the Jordanian labor market and developing future visions based on accurate data and evidence.

The study focused on several axes including employment, unemployment, characteristics of workers, informal labor, and newly created job opportunities. It serves as an important reference for government and non-governmental entities, civil society organizations, international institutions, donors, and those interested in the social and economic aspects of Jordan’s labor market.

Abdel Halim Dojan, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labor, confirmed that the study’s indicators are not just numbers but a roadmap for a deeper and broader understanding of the Jordanian labor market, its challenges, and promising opportunities. He highlighted the importance of regulating informal labor and the need to align vocational and technical education outputs with market demands.

The study revealed that more than half of Jordan’s population are males, with the population concentrated in young and economically active age groups, primarily in urban areas. Females prefer working in the public sector, especially in education and health, which offer more suitable and stable working conditions.

Employment rates dropped from 56.7% in 2017 to 45.0% in 2023, with male employment rates consistently higher than females. The private sector employs 61.4% of workers compared to 37.7% in the public sector.

Unemployment in Jordan reached 22.0% in 2023 compared to 18.3% in 2017. Female unemployment was 30.7%, much higher than males at 19.6%. Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) reached 46.5%, the highest among age groups.

In 2023, 95,342 new job opportunities were created, an increase of 5,838 from 2022, concentrated in the capital and urban areas, highlighting the need to redistribute investments and projects to remote areas. There is a notable gap in supply and demand, with excess supply in construction and excess demand in agriculture and fishing.

The cumulative applications to the Civil Service Bureau reached 486,118 in 2023, 86.5% of which were university graduates, indicating challenges in public sector employment and graduate absorption.