With close to 70% of the population being below age 30, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a very youthful country. With such a large young population, investing in young people is not just a matter of rights; it is also a matter of smart social and economic development, according to the OECD Development Centre’s Youth Well-Being Policy Review in Jordan.
Over the last two decades, Jordan has made considerable socio-economic progress. However, young Jordanians still face multiple challenges. The OECD Development Centre’s analysis of youth well-being in Jordan uses an innovative multi-dimensional approach to assess their situation in health, education, employment and civic participation.
“Youth is a formidable asset for Jordan’s economy. But it will take new policy action to fully tap its potential and turn it into sustainable economic and social gains.”, said Ian Brand-Weiner, Economist at the OECD Development Centre while presenting the study in Amman.
The Youth Well-being Policy Review of Jordan reveals that young Jordanians enjoy high access to education - 60.5% of 25-29-year-olds have a secondary or higher degree - yet, both quality and relevance are of particular concern.