aAMMAN -- The participation of Jordanian women in the labour force is still low at 14.9 per cent, lower than it is in the regional and low middle-income countries, according to a recent study prepared by the Jordan Social and Economic Council (JSEC).
In the Middle East and North Africa region, women constitute around 28 per cent of the labour force, while in low middle-income countries, the figure is around 43 per cent, said the study, which attributed the low participation of females in the labour force to obstacles related to lack of opportunity, discriminatory practices as well as prohibitive social norms.
Among the barriers to female participation in the labour force is high fertility rates and marriage, said the report, adding that marriage contributes significantly to preventing women from entering the labour force as "childcare and domestic responsibilities diminish women's chances to enter the labour market".
According to the JSEC, unemployment is another obstacle as there is a general lack of jobs, coupled with a gender-bias in recruitment that places young, educated women at a disadvantage.
Wage differentials and lower returns on employment is considered another barrier particularly for women working in the private sector, as they experience greater wage discrimination than their counterparts in the public sector.
Women's participation in the labour force has not kept pace with some gains Jordan has achieved over the past two decades, particularly in the fields of health and education, due to barriers that women still face related to working conditions and social norms and culture, according to the study.
Samar Kolaghassi, executive director of the Business and Professional Women Association (BPWA), described the percentage of women's participation in Jordanian economy and labour force as "sad".
"Women's participation in labour is among the lowest in the region and the world, while we among the highest levels of education worldwide," she told The Jordan Times Sunday on the sidelines of a forum to enhance female participation in the Kingdom's economy.
She highlighted that the association is working on several projects to address the obstacles that reduce women's participation in economic fields in addition to providing women with job opportunities.
During the forum titled, "Women's Roadmap to Long-Lasting Careers", experts discussed the main challenges that resulted in women's under-representation in the Jordanian workforce and low participation in the economy, with participants working to identify solutions and ways to encourage women to pursue their careers from an early age, and build their self-confidence and stamina in a manner that will enable them to assume leadership positions in the future and pursue successful career paths.
Around 80 women participants from across the Kingdom took part in the forum.
Nayef Stetieh, president and CEO of the Business Development Centre, which organised the event, said the centre will work to enhance female participation in the economy by facilitating access to the resources, networks and strategies required for their business ventures to succeed on the national, regional and international levels.
At her inaugural speech, Minister of Social Development Hala Lattouf noted that Jordan has laws that potentially boost women's rights and to enhance their participation in economic, social and public life.
The event was organised in partnership with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation, BPWA, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Empretec Entrepreneurship Programme and Maharat Employment and Training Programme, and featured several successful women entrepreneurs and professionals with long-lasting careers from Jordan and abroad.
By Omar Obeidat
© Jordan Times 2010
