Unemployment rate drops slightly in second quarter

AMMAN — The unemployment rate in Jordan saw a slight drop during the second quarter of this year, standing at 11.9 per cent compared with 12 per cent during the same period last year, according to Department of Statistics (DoS) figures.  

The jobless rate among men stood at 10.1 per cent while it was almost double that among women (20 per cent), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The unemployment rate among university graduates, including bachelor’s degree holders and above was among the highest, totalling 16.7 per cent. The rate was also high among holders of secondary school certificates and above, recorded at 57.3 per cent.

Moreover, the jobless rate was 42.7 per cent among those who did not complete high school, according to DoS. 

Meanwhile, a study conducted by the International Labour Organisation in the middle of this year on young men and women joining the labour market said in some cases, young people take three years to be able to land a decent job.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Sisterhood Is Global Institute/Jordan said the ILO study revealed that young people’s economic participation was weak, especially young women’s. 

Men’s recruitment rate is almost five times that of women, standing at 47.2 per cent compared to 11.2 per cent, the institute added, stressing the importance of taking steps to enhance women’s participation in economic life.