Supporting a National Employment Strategy that Works for Young Syrian Refugees in Jordan

Jordan

In 2013, youth unemployment was at 31.9%, more than double the overall rate. Beyond unemployment rates per se, labour market demand, labour market segmentation (refugees and non-refugees) and job quality are critical factors of the employment situation in Jordan.

In addition to an already precarious environment, Jordan has not been immune to the Arab Uprisings and is strongly affected by the Syrian Crisis. Evidence suggests that the Syrian refugee presence is taking a heavy toll on Jordanians with a downward pressure on wages in the informal economy, where wages were already low. Consequently, the most affected have been the most vulnerable segments of the population in the northern part of the country. In turn, most young Syrian refugees work in the informal economy in jobs below their qualification levels, in difficult working conditions and for a meagre wage.

The ILO/Sida Partnership 2016-2017 in Jordan supports the transition to decent work of Syrian refugees by i) improving the relevance and quality of the training provision for sectors targeted under the Jordan Compact; ii) proposing a national framework for apprenticeship that will improve the apprentice protection and the quality of the training; iii) offering information in a user-friendly format on labour rights and entitlements and how to protect them. More specifically the three proposed interventions are the following:
  • Sector based rapid assessments for the inclusion of Syrians in the labour market conducted;
  • A National Apprenticeship System in Jordan adopted; and
  • A phone application to facilitate Transitions to Decent Work developed.