ammonnews.net

Ammon News - A government-sponsored program has helped place 13,040 people into private sector jobs since its launch in April this year.

According to data made available to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), the National Employment Program (Tashgeel) has helped 7,070 men and 5,970 women secure employment in 785 private sector businesses since its launch.

With 29 percent of those employed through the program, the industrial sector has been the biggest employer, followed by the education and tourism sectors with 28 and 17 percent, respectively.

The industries with the lowest employment rates were mining and quarrying (2 percent), foreign organizations and bodies (1 percent), and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (0.03 percent).

Since the program's inception, private sector organizations and businesses have made available a total of 50,702 job openings, with 37 percent located in Amman, 29 percent in Irbid, 14 percent in Aqaba, 8 percent in Zarqa, 4 percent in Karak, and 1 percent each in Ajloun, Tafileh, Balqa, Mafraq, Jerash, Madaba, and Maan.

A total of 40,356 job seekers registered for the program, 20,606 of whom were female and 19,750 of whom were male. The proportion of job seekers with a bachelor's degree or higher was 46 percent.

"Tashgeel", for which the government has already earmarked JD80 million, aims to create 60,000 private-sector jobs. Under the scheme, a man or woman employed by a private sector entity will receive a JD130 monthly wage subsidy for a maximum of six months, provided that the employer offers the employee a one-year contract at least.

Moreover, the program also entails a JD10 contribution to the worker's monthly social security premium and a similar amount as a transportation allowance for a maximum of 6 months.