Employment Opportunities for Syrian and Palestinian Refugees in Jordan

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education provides underserved, high-achieving Arab students with the support and skills training they need to thrive. The Foundation enlisted a Capstone team to better understand the employment regulations, trends, and prospects of Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Jordan. The team conducted an analysis of the legal context, economic factors, and challenges and opportunities for employment. The team also collected data through field research, focus groups with refugee communities, and on-site interviews in Jordan with refugee-serving organizations and government agencies. Preliminary research results show an uncertain landscape, with some promise for certain occupations and tactics for legal employment. The team issued policy recommendations that will inform the work of the Foundation’s Refugee Education Fund, ensuring that the types of educational programs it seeks to fund at the secondary, vocational, and tertiary education levels in Jordan can lead to formal employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for refugees.