Jordan’s labour market in 2025 is at a critical juncture, as the country faces a mix of economic challenges and opportunities. Despite recent efforts to diversify the economy and create more job opportunities, Jordan continues to grapple with high unemployment rates, particularly among youth and women. Additionally, informal employment remains widespread, posing challenges to job seekers and employers.
However, there is good news: Jordan's key industries, including technology, healthcare, and renewable energy, are experiencing significant growth, which is expected to continue over the next few years. Understanding these trends is essential for recruiters and hiring managers to stay competitive and attract the right talent. Below, we dive into the top hiring trends in Jordan for 2025, backed by data and actionable strategies to help you navigate the evolving job market.
Overall Hiring and Job Market Growth in Jordan
- Total labour force reached 3.10 million in 2023
- Overall unemployment climbed to 22.3% in 2023
- Youth unemployment rate soared to 46.1% in 2023
- Female labour force participation was just 13.8% in Q2 2023
- Overall labour force participation stood at 33.0% in Q2 2023
- Informal employment made up 53.5% of total jobs in 2022
- Net new jobs created in 2023 totaled 95,342 positions
- Tourism sector employed 57,969 workers in Q3 2023
- Tourism revenues surged 27.4% to USD 7.4 billion in 2023
- ICT market is expected to reach USD 3.73 billion in 2025
- Employment in industry accounted for 18.3% of total employment in 2023
- Employment in services comprised 78.4% of total employment in 2023
- Employment in agriculture was just 3.2% of total employment in 2023
- Real GDP growth stood at 2.7% in 2023, supporting modest job gains
- Inflation rate dropped to 2.1% in 2023, helping preserve real incomes
Top Hiring Trends in Jordan (2025)
1. High Unemployment Rates Among Youth and Women
Jordan’s overall unemployment rate stands at 21%, with youth unemployment at 46% and female unemployment at 31%. These figures highlight the struggles in integrating youth and women into the workforce. The high unemployment rate is driven by limited formal job opportunities, skill mismatches, and structural barriers that prevent certain groups from entering the workforce.
✨Hiring Hack: Focus on entry-level positions and internships for youth and women. Partner with universities to create practical experience pipelines.
Suggested: Top Applicant Tracking Systems in Jordan
2. Low Female Labor Force Participation
Female labor force participation in Jordan remains low, with only 19.1% of women in the workforce as of 2023. Cultural norms, lack of childcare, and limited flexible job opportunities contribute to this low participation. Despite strides in female education, labor force participation lags due to women's challenges in balancing work and family life.
✨Hiring Hack: Create flexible work policies like remote work and flexible hours. Actively recruit through targeted outreach to increase female participation.
3. Growth in Key Industries
Jordan’s economy is experiencing growth in key sectors like technology, healthcare, and renewable energy. The technology sector, in particular, is booming with digital transformation initiatives and the rise of e-commerce. For example, the tech sector is expected to grow by 8% annually over the next five years. The healthcare sector is expanding rapidly due to rising population demands, and renewable energy is seeing substantial investment, driven by Jordan’s solar potential.
✨Hiring Hack: Focus recruitment efforts on high-growth sectors like tech and healthcare. Leverage online platforms and industry-specific job boards to find talent.
4. Informal Employment Challenges
Informal employment remains high in Jordan, with approximately 40% of the workforce working outside the formal sector. Many informal workers lack job security, benefits, and legal protection. Informality is most prevalent in sectors like construction, agriculture, and domestic labor, where low-skilled workers are the most affected. This reliance on informal work presents a significant challenge for recruiters seeking long-term, stable employees.
✨Hiring Hack: Promote the benefits of formal employment through awareness campaigns. Partner with educational institutions to align skills with market needs.
5. Initiatives to Reduce Unemployment
Jordan’s government has launched several initiatives to reduce unemployment. The National Employment Program, for example, has successfully supported over 46,000 employment contracts, with half of these contracts allocated to women. The government continues to partner with the private sector to create job opportunities in high-demand fields such as technology and healthcare. However, despite these efforts, unemployment among youth and women remains high.
✨Hiring Hack: Stay updated on government employment initiatives and collaborate to access hiring subsidies and support for underrepresented groups.
Also Read: Top Recruitment Platforms in Jordan
6. Emphasis on Education and Skill Development
Jordan is investing heavily in education, especially technical and vocational training, to address the growing skills gap. Despite efforts to improve education, many graduates still lack industry-relevant skills, particularly in high-demand sectors like technology, healthcare, and engineering. A closer partnership between universities and industries is needed to align educational outcomes with market needs better.
✨Hiring Hack: Partner with educational institutions for internships and on-the-job training programs. Provide continuous learning opportunities to retain top talent.
7. Utilization of Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment agencies are becoming increasingly important in Jordan, especially in specialised sectors like technology and healthcare. In 2025, it’s expected that over 25% of all recruitment will be conducted through agencies. These agencies help businesses find qualified candidates and ensure compliance with local labor laws. However, the trend is gradually shifting toward the use of AI- recruitment tools. These tools streamline candidate sourcing, screening, and shortlisting, providing a faster, more efficient alternative to traditional agency recruitment.
✨Hiring Hack: While recruitment agencies remain important, integrating AI-powered tools can significantly enhance efficiency. Combining both can ensure a wider talent pool and a smoother hiring process, especially for specialized roles.
Jordan’s labour market in 2025 presents both challenges, such as high unemployment and informal employment, and opportunities in growing sectors like tech and healthcare. By embracing strategic initiatives, focusing on education and skill development, and collaborating with recruitment agencies, recruiters can attract and retain top talent in Jordan's evolving job market.
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