Khaberni - The Ministry of Labor said that the National Employment Program is currently undergoing additional steps within a continuous review to enhance its efficiency and strengthen its impact on the labor market, including reordering the priorities of targeted sectors to align with actual market needs and focusing on value-added jobs.
Riyad Shamout, Director of the National Employment Program at the Ministry of Labor, told "Al-Mamlaka" that the measures included enhancing fairness and geographical balance in the distribution among the governorates, through redefining targeted areas that take developmental differences and employment indicators into account, giving special attention to priority governorates.
He explained that the measures also included analyzing the situations of companies and establishments currently benefiting from the program, and the extent of their compliance with sustainable employment goals.
Shamout clarified that the program is continuously reviewed in terms of its scope and the interventions implemented, allowing for the exploration of expansion towards additional categories or sectors according to labor market priorities, market demand, expected impact, and ensuring the allocation of resources to areas with greater potential for actual and sustainable employment.
Since its launch in 2021 until the present, the total number of work contracts signed and supported under the National Employment Program reached 61,343 beneficiaries who joined sustainable full-time jobs with contracts lasting at least 12 months, as Shamout confirmed to "Al-Mamlaka".
* Sector Distribution
Shamout noted that the number of beneficiaries reflects the extent of the program's intervention in supporting employment and connecting job seekers with actual job opportunities in the private sector within an organized and well-defined framework.
Regarding the economic sectors that have absorbed most of the beneficiaries, Shamout said that the highest percentage was concentrated in sectors most capable of generating job opportunities and absorbing job seekers, with the education sector leading with 17,337 beneficiaries, followed by the manufacturing industry with 16,111 beneficiaries, then the accommodation and food services sector third with 10,413 beneficiaries.
He added that this distribution reflects the program's connection to the actual demand in the job market and the needs of private sector establishments.
Regarding the beneficiaries who are still receiving support, Shamout told "Al-Mamlaka" that the number of workers who are still employed and receiving support from the program totals 7,109 workers, while the number of establishments registered in the program to date is 3,588 establishments, 1,826 of which have been approved and are receiving support from the National Employment Program, reflecting the continued interest of private sector establishments in benefiting from the program as a practical tool for supporting employment and stimulating organized recruitment.
Shamout pointed out that the latest indicators adopted by the National Employment Program showed that the percentage of beneficiaries who continued in their jobs after the support period reached 75%, while the actual number of beneficiaries still engaged in the labor market reached 35,010 beneficiaries to date, indicating that these indicators reflect the actual impact of the program in supporting sustainable employment, not just providing initial employment opportunities.
He explained that the continuity in the program before its restructuring used to be measured six months after the end of the support period, while now the measurement of continuity for beneficiaries who joined the program after its restructuring takes place nine months after the support ends.
He noted that the timing for calculating this indicator for the new group "has not yet arrived", as the first registrations within it began in September 2025, affirming they will be measured as soon as the adopted time frame is completed, ensuring a more accurate reading of employment stability and job sustainability provided by the program.
Shamout confirmed that the level of job sustainability provided by the National Employment Program is assessed as positive and makes a difference to sustainability in the medium and long term, based on the monitoring and verification results implemented by the program for beneficiaries after the support period, and the recorded continuation rates in the labor market.
* Responding to Market Needs
Shamout mentioned that the program was originally designed to be a supportive intervention for sustainable employment, not merely a tool to provide temporary opportunities linked to the support period.
Regarding the follow-up after 12 months or more from the end of the support, he explained that the program adopts follow-up mechanisms according to the approved indicators and the timeframes available for measurement, stating that the available results showed that 30,852 beneficiaries continued working for 12 months or more, while the ministry is working on enhancing follow-up tools and impact measurement to broaden the monitoring scope and support a more accurate assessment of sustainability in the next phase.
The program director for "Al-Mamlaka" confirmed that the restructuring of the National Employment Program, approved in September 2025, contributed to enhancing the program's ability to respond to labor market needs and improve the efficiency of the interventions provided to beneficiaries and establishments, supporting better employment rates and sustainability in the medium term.
He stated that the restructuring included several core adjustments, notably extending the support duration, increasing the monthly support value, and expanding targeted categories, including those in greatest need, thereby enhancing the program's appeal to employers and broadening the opportunities to benefit from it.
* Longer Support Period and Greater Response to Needs
He explained that the restructuring is still relatively early in its implementation, meaning that a full assessment of its impact, especially concerning sustainability after the support period, requires completing the necessary timeframes for tracking beneficiaries according to the adopted methodology.
However, he noted that preliminary data shows that the adjustments introduced to the program enhance the chances of continuing in employment, through providing a longer support period and a greater response to the needs of targeted categories and establishments.
Regarding the extension of the wage support period from 6 to 9 months, Shamout told "Al-Mamlaka" that this has helped improve the retention of workers in their jobs by giving establishments a longer period to integrate the worker and for the worker to gain more stable work experience, increasing the likelihood of continuing in the job after the support ends.
He added that extending the support duration reduces the cost of employment for establishments for a longer period, especially in sectors that require a longer period for qualification and job adaptation.
He affirmed that the extension is not only seen as additional financial support but as a tool to improve the quality of integration into the labor market and reduce the likelihood of early job discontinuation, reflecting positively on the chances of continuing in employment after the end of the support period, consistent with the logic of the program based on supporting actual employment and linking beneficiaries to more sustainable job opportunities.
Regarding the impact of the program on unemployment rates in Jordan, Shamout said that the National Employment Program is one of the government interventions aimed at stimulating employment and reducing employment costs in the private sector, thereby supporting efforts to reduce unemployment and create job opportunities for Jordanians.
At the same time, he emphasized that the national unemployment rate is affected by a wide range of economic, sectoral, and demographic factors, so the change in the overall rate cannot be attributed directly to the program alone.
Regarding beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund, he stated that the number of beneficiaries within the National Employment Program to date reached 7,040, including 4,139 males and 2,901 females, reflecting the program's focus on giving clear priority to the most needy categories and enhancing their economic integration through employment.
He added that the current participation rate of women in the program has reached 51.8%, confirming the program's continued support for women's economic participation and expanding their access to organized and supported employment opportunities.
Regarding persons with disabilities, Shamout told "Al-Mamlaka" that the number of beneficiaries of the National Employment Program reached 121, including 66 males and 55 females.
He confirmed that this support comes within a clear direction towards providing more suitable support to categories requiring backing opportunities, enhancing their integration into the labor market and their continuity in it, and embodying the program's commitment to principles of inclusion and equal opportunities.
He mentioned that these results pertain to the beneficiaries of the current support period before extending the support to 12 months, while work is currently underway on a plan to implement the new support measures.
