Jordan Suspends Foreign Worker Hiring From June 1 as Unemployment Falls to 16%
Updated
Updated · Arabian Gulf Business Insight · Jun 5
Jordan Suspends Foreign Worker Hiring From June 1 as Unemployment Falls to 16%
2 articles · Updated · Arabian Gulf Business Insight · Jun 5
Summary
Jordan halted recruitment of foreign workers in most sectors from June 1, with approvals issued before the cutoff still valid.
Labour Minister Khaled Al-Bakkar ordered the suspension to widen job openings for Jordanians, while the ministry said foreign hiring could resume if market conditions require it.
The freeze exempts garment and textile businesses, apparel manufacturers in development, qualified industrial and free zones, and domestic workers.
Jordan’s unemployment rate fell to 16% in the first quarter of 2026, down 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier.
Among Jordanians aged 24 and above, unemployment stood at 18% in January-March, including 14% for men and 29% for women.