A topic of concern over the past couple years in the States has been the inability of recent college graduates to find jobs.
In Jordan something similar has been occurring. Check out Thomas L. Friedman's video from the New York Times on Jordanian's "Educated, Unemployable": http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/02/04/opinion/1248069613179/thomas-l-friedman-in-jordan.html
Friedman discusses an issue of major concern in Jordan - unemployment. With an unemployment rate of 13.5% (2007) and an unofficial rate of nearly 30%, and the median age in Jordan at 22 years of age, the problem of unemployment, particularly in regards to Jordanian youth, will be an issue that King Abdullah II and the New Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will need to deal with sooner rather than later. Unemployment is not only an issue of living a decent lifestyle and having the opportunity to earn a fair wage, but it is also related to the stability of this country. Demands need to be met, and hopefully will be soon, in order to ensure the stability of Jordan in a region that has been seeing too many struggles in less than a year.
I think Friedman mentions an interesting aspect of the unemployment crisis. Two words are of great importance: "educated, unemployable". The majority of Jordan's youth receive an education, and Jordan is ranked number one in the region on the Human Development Index, which accounts for education. Yet, despite their education, they cannot find a job. So what is going on? One answer may be that Jordan needs more jobs. But another reason for the "unemployable" aspect is that their skills attained through their education does not prepare them for the workforce they enter after their studies.
Now, I do not completely buy the whole "educated, unemployable" bit. I understand how managing a business requires various skills that you do not attain while receiving a university education - it takes life skills and experience in the specific field. However, what about working as waiters in cafés, restaurants, etc.? There are so many unemployed Jordanian youth, yet the majority of the employees (expect the manager) at the cafés and Fast Food restaurants who are Egyptian or other non-Jordanians.
I went to Mecca Mall a week ago and I decided to sit at a café and purchase a Coca-Cola while waiting for two friends who were shopping in a store. When my friends finished in the store, I went to the cashier stand to pay my bill. Three of the employees were standing there and one struck up a conversation with me. He told me that he was from Egypt in addition to the other server who was standing next to him. However the other man was Jordanian and his boss. And this is the theme that I have seen throughout Amman - a hierarchical society. The managers of the various stores are Jordanian, while the employees who handle the basic tasks are non-Jordanians. Do Jordanian youth feel that according to their culture and the norm they are discouraged to work anything less than a managerial position? I am sure there are some cases where this is not true, but from what I have personally experienced and have been told, Jordanian youth and Jordanians in general are discouraged from non-managerial positions and jobs of lesser quality, like cleaning the streets, etc.
The issues facing Jordan, and other countries throughout this world, have no simple solution. But if Jordan does not act quickly and wisely, it will surely have to pay in some regard.
In Jordan something similar has been occurring. Check out Thomas L. Friedman's video from the New York Times on Jordanian's "Educated, Unemployable": http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/02/04/opinion/1248069613179/thomas-l-friedman-in-jordan.html
Friedman discusses an issue of major concern in Jordan - unemployment. With an unemployment rate of 13.5% (2007) and an unofficial rate of nearly 30%, and the median age in Jordan at 22 years of age, the problem of unemployment, particularly in regards to Jordanian youth, will be an issue that King Abdullah II and the New Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will need to deal with sooner rather than later. Unemployment is not only an issue of living a decent lifestyle and having the opportunity to earn a fair wage, but it is also related to the stability of this country. Demands need to be met, and hopefully will be soon, in order to ensure the stability of Jordan in a region that has been seeing too many struggles in less than a year.
I think Friedman mentions an interesting aspect of the unemployment crisis. Two words are of great importance: "educated, unemployable". The majority of Jordan's youth receive an education, and Jordan is ranked number one in the region on the Human Development Index, which accounts for education. Yet, despite their education, they cannot find a job. So what is going on? One answer may be that Jordan needs more jobs. But another reason for the "unemployable" aspect is that their skills attained through their education does not prepare them for the workforce they enter after their studies.
Now, I do not completely buy the whole "educated, unemployable" bit. I understand how managing a business requires various skills that you do not attain while receiving a university education - it takes life skills and experience in the specific field. However, what about working as waiters in cafés, restaurants, etc.? There are so many unemployed Jordanian youth, yet the majority of the employees (expect the manager) at the cafés and Fast Food restaurants who are Egyptian or other non-Jordanians.
I went to Mecca Mall a week ago and I decided to sit at a café and purchase a Coca-Cola while waiting for two friends who were shopping in a store. When my friends finished in the store, I went to the cashier stand to pay my bill. Three of the employees were standing there and one struck up a conversation with me. He told me that he was from Egypt in addition to the other server who was standing next to him. However the other man was Jordanian and his boss. And this is the theme that I have seen throughout Amman - a hierarchical society. The managers of the various stores are Jordanian, while the employees who handle the basic tasks are non-Jordanians. Do Jordanian youth feel that according to their culture and the norm they are discouraged to work anything less than a managerial position? I am sure there are some cases where this is not true, but from what I have personally experienced and have been told, Jordanian youth and Jordanians in general are discouraged from non-managerial positions and jobs of lesser quality, like cleaning the streets, etc.
The issues facing Jordan, and other countries throughout this world, have no simple solution. But if Jordan does not act quickly and wisely, it will surely have to pay in some regard.
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