Labour market transitions in Jordan

: Understanding young people's subjectivities.

Abstract

Jordan has encountered complex challenges in facilitating youth transition from education to work (The Prime Ministry, 2015). Despite governmental initiatives, the duration of this transition has significantly extended, reaching nearly 60 months (Amer, 2018). While there is extensive literature on youth transition within Western contexts, the MENA region, especially Jordan, has attracted little attention. In developing countries, prevailing literature predominantly comprises quantitative studies, overlooking the significance of understanding youth transitions from their own perspectives.
This study aims to bridge these gaps by qualitatively examining young Jordanians' transitions from their standpoint, transcending Western paradigms. It specifically examines the most common transition pathways, Jordanian young people’s understanding of successful transition, and their views regarding their key success determinants.
The study conducted semi-structured interviews with 32 Jordanians aged 20 to 29 with prior work experience. It elucidated the interplay of subjectivity, structural determinants, and contextual dynamics in Jordan. It explores variations in these determinants across gender, class, and locality.
It identifies five key transition pathways: transitioning from compulsory education, transitioning from vocational education, transitioning from tertiary education to the public sector, transitioning from tertiary education to the private sector, and returning to education. While acknowledging the relevance of structuration and forms of capital theories, the study underscores the necessity of context-specific considerations. Emphasising the inadequacy of singular explanatory, the study uses an ecological framework encompassing individual, familial, local, national, and global factors to understand youth transition determinants comprehensively.
It also highlights determinants specific to Jordanian youth transitions, including local customs, patriarchal norms, and the pervasive influence of nepotism, known as ‘Wasta’. In addition to offering a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics shaping young Jordanians' transitions, the study gives valuable insights for formulating effective policies tailored to Jordan and the wider MENA region.

Date of Award	10 Dec 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Sebnem Eroglu-Hawksworth (Supervisor) & Eldin Fahmy (Supervisor)