2008年-世界发展银行全球_Jordan_-_Resolving_Jordans_Labor_Market_Paradox_of_Concurrent_Economic_Growth_and_High_Unemployment_76页_5mb

Summary of Report No. 39201-JO: Resolving Jordan's Labor Market Paradox

Core Content

This report examines the paradox of concurrent economic growth and high unemployment in Jordan, focusing on the mismatch between job creation and the ability of Jordanians to fill those jobs. It identifies three key mismatches: geography, employability, and expectations. The report also proposes policy recommendations to address these issues and improve the labor market outcomes for Jordanians.

Main Views

• High unemployment persists despite economic growth: Jordan has experienced strong GDP growth and increased foreign investment, yet unemployment among Jordanians remains around 14.5%, with many new jobs filled by foreign workers.
• Geographic mismatch: Jobs are concentrated in Amman, where less than 40% of the unemployed population resides. This leads to a lack of alignment between job locations and the distribution of unemployed workers.
• Employability mismatch: Jordanian workers, despite having sufficient education and training, are often perceived as less productive and less committed in the workplace compared to foreign workers.
• Expectation mismatch: Many Jordanians have high expectations regarding wages and job quality, which are not met by the available employment opportunities, leading to voluntary unemployment.

Key Information

Economic Growth and Job Creation

• Jordan has achieved strong GDP growth, averaging 6% from 2000 to 2005.
• Annual job creation has ranged between 23,900 and 44,500 during this period.
• However, unemployment has remained relatively steady at around 14.5%.

Job Creation by Nationality

• 63% of new jobs were filled by foreign workers according to the DOS Employment and Unemployment Survey and the Ministry of Labor data.
• 52% of new jobs were filled by foreign workers according to the blended data set.
• Foreign workers in Jordan now number between 250,000 and 300,000, far exceeding the number of unemployed Jordanians (175,000 in 2005).

Geographic Disparities

• 65% of jobs created between 2000 and 2004 were in Amman, while less than 40% of the unemployed population lived there.
• Other governorates did not see proportional job creation relative to their share of the unemployed.
• The Civil Service Bureau has been a major source of job creation, but its practices have discouraged the unemployed from seeking other employment.

Employability Issues

• Employers prefer foreign workers due to perceived differences in workplace behavior, productivity, and flexibility.
• A survey by the University of Jordan found that Jordanian workers are often seen as less valuable due to lower effort, responsibility, and attendance.
• Jordanian workers are also considered more expensive per unit of output compared to foreign workers.

Expectation Mismatch

• 46% of unemployed Jordanians are willing to accept existing jobs at prevailing wages.
• The remaining 54% are "voluntarily unemployed" and not willing to take the available jobs, indicating a mismatch between expectations and job quality.
• Social marketing and accurate labor market information are recommended to correct these expectations.

Policy Recommendations

1. Improve employability: Align education with employer needs by focusing on skills, internships, and career counseling.
2. Promote high-wage job creation: Encourage the development of industries that can generate high-wage employment, such as the knowledge economy.
3. Reduce legal and regulatory distortions: Reform labor laws and tax policies to favor high-wage sectors and reduce reliance on low-wage labor.
4. Encourage new business creation: Address constraints such as political instability, high tax rates, and corruption to support small businesses.
5. Revise civil service hiring practices: Stop accepting applications when no jobs are available to reduce the perception of job security and discourage voluntary unemployment.
6. Enhance social protection: Reform social protection programs to increase incentives to work, particularly for the poor and unemployed.
7. Disseminate labor market data: Provide accurate and accessible information on job opportunities and wages to shape realistic expectations.

Conclusion

To effectively reduce unemployment, the Government of Jordan must adopt a multi-faceted approach that addresses the three key mismatches in the labor market. This includes improving employability through education reform, creating an environment conducive to high-wage job growth, and realigning expectations through better labor market information and social marketing. The report emphasizes the need for a separate strategy for the voluntarily unemployed, as traditional investment-driven approaches may not be sufficient.