ILO assists Jordan to update its quarterly employment and unemployment survey in accordance with International Standards
The Government of Jordan has adopted a new methodology for surveying employment and unemployment that takes into account the changes that have occurred in the labour market, which now includes large numbers of non-Jordanians.
31 May 2017
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Amman, Jordan (ILO News) - The ILO is providing technical assistance to Jordan’s Department of Statistics (DOS) in updating the country’s current employment and unemployment quarterly survey.
The update includes three main changes. A new sampling frame was used along with an innovative sampling methodology that covers migrant workers and refugees. This new sampling design allows producing estimates not only for Jordanians but also for non-Jordanians. Moreover, the estimates will now also be published as numbers rather than just as percentages.
The concepts and definitions were updated in line with the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization adopted in the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians. Therefore the concept of ‘employment’ was narrowed down to persons working for pay or profit. It excluded from the category of the employed unpaid trainees and volunteers, in addition to persons who produce goods and services mainly for their own use rather than for the market, whereby they had previously been included under the old concept.
In addition, the questionnaire was updated in line with the new concepts and definitions. It is expected that implementing the new methodology and increasing the sample size will lead to an increase in the unemployment rate.
Labour market experts, including ILO Chief Adviser Mustafa Hakki Ozel and sampling consultants Hasibe Dedes and Prof. Vijay Verma, conducted a number of visits to Jordan to provide the necessary advices on how to obtain more accurate information on unemployment among citizens and non-Jordanian workers, including refugees.
Between July and October 2015, the sample frame for the new census was designed in which all buildings, houses, workplaces and refugee camps were recorded. The Population and Housing census itself was conducted between November and December 2015, and included all residents.
The workplaces of migrant and refugee workers were divided into three different categories: (a) private households (in order to include refugee camps and other places where migrant workers live), (b) collective families (defined as families of six or more unrelated persons) and (c) public households (consisting of schools, workers' accommodations, hospitals and buildings where migrant workers working live).
As part of the assistance provided by the ILO, the new sample design was developed, specific inputs were proposed for the revision of the questionnaire, weights and differences were calculated for the analytical part of the report, and capacity building was provided for the staff of the Department of Statistics.
The adoption of this new methodology is considered a pioneer step in the field of labour market and labour migration statistics, and it will provide the Government of Jordan with better information for designing policies for increased labour force participation and employment.
The update includes three main changes. A new sampling frame was used along with an innovative sampling methodology that covers migrant workers and refugees. This new sampling design allows producing estimates not only for Jordanians but also for non-Jordanians. Moreover, the estimates will now also be published as numbers rather than just as percentages.
The concepts and definitions were updated in line with the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization adopted in the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians. Therefore the concept of ‘employment’ was narrowed down to persons working for pay or profit. It excluded from the category of the employed unpaid trainees and volunteers, in addition to persons who produce goods and services mainly for their own use rather than for the market, whereby they had previously been included under the old concept.
In addition, the questionnaire was updated in line with the new concepts and definitions. It is expected that implementing the new methodology and increasing the sample size will lead to an increase in the unemployment rate.
Labour market experts, including ILO Chief Adviser Mustafa Hakki Ozel and sampling consultants Hasibe Dedes and Prof. Vijay Verma, conducted a number of visits to Jordan to provide the necessary advices on how to obtain more accurate information on unemployment among citizens and non-Jordanian workers, including refugees.
Between July and October 2015, the sample frame for the new census was designed in which all buildings, houses, workplaces and refugee camps were recorded. The Population and Housing census itself was conducted between November and December 2015, and included all residents.
The workplaces of migrant and refugee workers were divided into three different categories: (a) private households (in order to include refugee camps and other places where migrant workers live), (b) collective families (defined as families of six or more unrelated persons) and (c) public households (consisting of schools, workers' accommodations, hospitals and buildings where migrant workers working live).
As part of the assistance provided by the ILO, the new sample design was developed, specific inputs were proposed for the revision of the questionnaire, weights and differences were calculated for the analytical part of the report, and capacity building was provided for the staff of the Department of Statistics.
The adoption of this new methodology is considered a pioneer step in the field of labour market and labour migration statistics, and it will provide the Government of Jordan with better information for designing policies for increased labour force participation and employment.