Amman, April 29 (Petra) -- Jordan’s overall unemployment rate for the population, including Jordanians and non-Jordanians, edged down by 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the third quarter, reaching 16.1%, the Department of Statistics (DoS) said Wednesday.

In a statement issued ahead of International Workers’ Day, marked annually on May 1, the DoS said the unemployment rate among males stood at 13.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 0.2% from 13.6% in the third quarter, while female unemployment fell by 2 percentage points from the third quarter of the same year to 25.0%.

On social security coverage, the department said the number of workers insured by the Social Security Corporation has increased significantly over the past years, rising from 366,000 male and female workers in 2000 to about 1,599,914 in 2024.

The average monthly wage also increased from JD 60 in the mid-1970s to JD 211 in the mid-1990s, reaching JD 551 in 2023 across the public and private sectors. The average wage stood at JD 563 for males and JD 522 for females.

In the public sector, the average monthly wage reached JD 667 in 2023, with male workers earning an average of JD 691 compared with JD 632 for females. In the private sector, the average monthly wage stood at JD 499, including JD 517 for male workers.

Jordan was among the first Arab countries to establish labor organizations. The General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions was founded in 1954 and was among the federations that contributed to the establishment of the Confederation of Arab Workers.

Representatives of the federation took part in the first founding conference and in most Arab-level meetings and activities. Over more than half a century, Jordan’s labor movement has achieved substantial progress, supported by positive conditions, a strong national spirit, constructive cooperation, and commitment to national assets with all development partners, contributing to the movement’s growth and expanding its gains.

//Petra// AO