Khaberni - In Jordan, which has long bet on the human being as its most valuable asset, a fundamental question emerges today: Are we truly entering the era of the "skills economy"?
The concept of economy and wealth in the world has changed; it is no longer measured by our possession of natural resources, lands, or facilities, but rather by our possession of minds capable of thinking, innovating, and revitalizing. In a country like Jordan, this idea is more than just a national slogan, it is an inevitable strategic direction.
The features of this transformation are becoming clear in sectors such as information technology, technical education, and specialized industries that rely on human skill and experience as a primary source of value-added. These are not individual stories or exceptions, but real models of what the Jordanian economy can be like when the human is at the heart of the production equation, not on its margins.
The modern economy no longer relies only on physical capital, but on the skills capable of transforming knowledge into production and skill into achievement. In Jordanian factories, in emerging technology companies, in universities and laboratories, the features of a new stage are forming today, which can truly be called the era of the skills economy.
The shift towards this type of economy does not mean replacing physical capital with human capital, but achieving a smart balance between them, where the human becomes the center of decision and development, not just an executor of it. This in turn requires an environment that stimulates creativity, an educational system that keeps pace with market needs, and an institutional belief that investing in humans is the most sustainable and profitable investment.
The concept of the skills economy is not limited to technical professions alone, but encompasses all forms of human excellence:
From the researcher who contributes to generating knowledge and transforming it into practical solutions that support innovation and production.
To the designer who transforms ideas into innovative products and services that create added value.
From the programmer who builds smart systems that enhance efficiency and productivity.
To the manager who leads a team efficiently.
To the entrepreneur who turns an idea into a successful project.
From the engineer who invents a technical solution.
To the teacher who develops a skill.
To the technician who excels in smart operation.
To the industrialist who develops a local product carrying the national identity.
To the skilled worker who masters operating a complex machine.
All of them today form the real capital on which Jordan can build its economic future. These are not just employees or technicians, but economic assets whose value is as great as any material investment.
From here, it becomes imperative for us to redefine development itself. Development no longer means just the construction of roads and factories, but building the capabilities that operate them, and generating the ideas that manage them. When we believe that every mind is a production project and every skill is an investment, we truly start building the skills economy that fears no competition, because it relies on what cannot be imported or duplicated: the Jordanian human himself.
The productive and industrial facilities today depend more than ever on the human element, and the skills that combine technical, scientific, and administrative expertise. Here, the pivotal role of Jordanian technical universities emerges, which have become true partners in industrial development through applied education programs, innovation centers, and cooperation with the private sector in research and development.
The integrated role of the Ministry of Labor, Vocational Training Corporation, and the Sectoral Skills Councils in the Jordan Chamber of Industry also emerges, which together have started to redraw a new image of the Jordanian worker, as a highly skilled individual capable of competing regionally and internationally.
Thus, the skills economy is an integrated economy, based on employing intelligence, experience, and knowledge in service of development, where academic and scientific skills integrate with practical skills to form a national production system capable of competing globally.
And in this context, we cannot ignore the Jordanian competencies abroad, those minds that have proven their success in various fields, from Gulf hospitals to European laboratories. These are not just expatriates, but a human resource that crosses borders, which if properly invested and opened real channels for return or participation, could be turned into a tremendous economic lever. The skills economy does not only mean investing in what we have, but also smartly and sustainably reclaiming our migrated minds. The real challenge lies in transforming this human capital into an effective internal force, by linking it to opportunities inside Jordan or encouraging it to invest its expertise in national projects.
The transition to the skills economy requires that skill and knowledge development be at the core of any economic plan. When we direct public policies toward building humans not just infrastructure, the Jordanian transforms from a beneficiary of development into a maker of it. When we believe that minds are the real factory, and that every Jordanian mind is an economic resource, and every graduate is a production opportunity, we have stepped onto the path of the future. Only then will we discover that the silent force that will change our future was in our hands from the beginning.
The question today is not: Do we have competencies? But do we provide them with the environment they deserve to shape the future?
