Jordan’s $3 Billion ICT Sector Is Growing Fast — So Why Can’t Graduates Get Hired?

Jordan’s tech sector is worth $3.11 billion and growing at nearly 16 percent per year. By 2031, it’s projected to reach $6.52 billion. ICT employment has grown at a 19 percent compound annual rate over recent years. Yet youth unemployment sits at 41.72 percent, and 7,000 new ICT graduates enter the market annually without guaranteed pathways. This is the paradox at the heart of Jordan’s technology economy.

The barriers are structural and interlinked. First, there’s a skills mismatch: universities are training students on yesterday’s stack while employers need engineers who can ship production AI systems today. Second, the “one year of experience” paradox means entry-level roles require experience, but meaningful internships remain rare. Third, brain drain is accelerating — an estimated 30 to 40 percent of Jordan’s top tech talent emigrates for Gulf or Western salaries, deepening domestic shortages. Fourth, hiring in Jordan is heavily relationship-driven. Without network access, qualified candidates’ applications simply disappear.

The government is responding. Jordan’s AI Strategy 2023–2027 targets training 15,000 individuals, launching 50 new AI startups, and increasing AI research output by 30 percent. The Economic Modernization Vision aims to create one million new jobs and double female labor force participation. iPARK has enabled over $20 million in investment and 3,000 jobs. The ISSF fund puts $98 million behind startups and SMEs.

But policy alone won’t close the gap. STEADYWRK exists because we’re not waiting for the system to fix itself. We’re building the bridge between Jordan’s tech graduates and the employers who actually want them — with structured hiring, real projects, and a 14-day timeline from application to offer.