Average monthly wage reaches JD544 in 2022 — DoS

AMMAN — The average monthly wage in Jordan stood at JD544 in 2022, according to data released by the Department of Statistics (DoS) on Wednesday, marking International Workers’ Day.

Figures show a gender gap in earnings, with the average wage for male employees reaching JD561, compared to JD503 for females. The report covers both public and private sector workers.

Public sector employees earned significantly more, with an average monthly wage of JD646. Male public employees earned JD682 on average, while their female counterparts earned JD587. In contrast, the average wage in the private sector was JD493, with men earning JD511 and women JD439.

The statement also highlighted a slight improvement in employment figures. The national unemployment rate declined by 0.6 percentage points in 2024, reaching 21.4 per cent. Male unemployment dropped to 18.2 per cent, a decrease of 1.4 points, while female unemployment rose by 2.2 points to 32.9 per cent.

Over the past two decades, the number of insured workers registered with the Social Security Corporation has increased significantly, rising from 366,000 in 2000 to approximately 1.5 million in 2023.

Despite these gains, the DoS emphasized that the Jordanian labour market continues to face structural challenges, including increasing competition from migrant workers, which has constrained job opportunities for Jordanians. Unemployment rates have remained largely unchanged despite sustained policy efforts.

The department also underscored the low economic participation of women, noting that only 14.9 per cent of Jordanian women aged 15 and above were active in the labour force in 2024 — a figure that remains well below expectations.

Marking the occasion, the department praised the “substantial progress” of Jordan’s labour movement over the past 50 years, citing a tradition of strong national engagement and union activity. Jordan was among the first Arab nations to form labour unions, with the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) established in 1954. Since then, the federation has played a pivotal role in founding the Arab Labour Union and participating in key regional events.