School-to-work transition of young women and men in Jordan

The Jordanian economy has struggled to provide sufficient and decent job opportunities, including for its young population in specific, resulting in high levels of unemployment and underutilization among the youth. Young women have been disproportionately affected, with the majority remaining outside the labour force. Despite high levels of education, highly educated young people experience the highest rates of unemployment. Long-term unemployment is also prevalent, and employers face difficulty finding qualified candidates for their businesses. Overall, challenges that hinder young people’s access to decent employment are multifaceted, driven by both supply and demand-side deficiencies. Thus the need for a comprehensive policy framework that can address the root causes of young people’s difficult transitions from school to work.