Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies Phenix Center for Economic & Informatics Studies
A specialized report revealed a sharp decline in the number of labor protests in Jordan during 2025, with only 24 protests recorded compared to 51 in 2024 – a decrease of 53%.
The report, issued by the Labor Watch Jordan at the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, emphasized that this decline does not necessarily indicate an improvement in working conditions or a reduction in labor grievances. Instead, it is primarily linked to rising unemployment rates, shrinking job opportunities, and increasing worker vulnerability. These factors have weakened workers’ ability to protest and heightened fears of losing their jobs.
According to the report, Jordan’s unemployment rate reached 21.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The rate among women was 32.9%, compared to 18.2% among men, while overall economic participation stood at just 34.1%. These indicators reflect a tight labor market and the high value placed on available jobs, making workers more reluctant to resort to protest.
The report explained that the current labor market environment, characterized by limited job opportunities, undermines workers’ bargaining power. With large numbers of job seekers willing to accept positions under weaker conditions, employers find themselves in a stronger position, reducing their incentive to respond to workers’ demands. This deepens workers’ sense that protests are ineffective.
This situation is further exacerbated by the lack of effective legal protections and strong union mechanisms in many sectors. Participation in labor protests becomes a risky gamble that could cost workers their only source of income. As a result, fear of job loss acts as a deterrent against strikes or sit-ins, even as working conditions continue to deteriorate.
The report argued that high unemployment rates are not merely an economic indicator but also serve as an indirect pressure mechanism that restricts protest activity and limits workers’ ability to defend their rights.
Data showed that most labor protests in 2025 were concentrated in the private sector (70.8%), which employs the majority of Jordan’s workforce but is marked by instability and weak job security compared to the public sector. This concentration highlights that labor tensions stem largely from the structure of employment relations in the private sector.
Regarding protest causes, 29.2% were linked to objections against laws, regulations, procedures, and decisions, while wage-related issues accounted for 25%. Other causes included health insurance, occupational safety, and general working conditions. The prominence of objections to policies and regulations indicates that labor tensions extend beyond immediate working conditions to the broader framework governing the labor market.
The report noted that wage levels remain a major source of labor tension. Around 54% of workers insured under social security earn 500 dinars or less per month, while 21.5% earn 300 dinars or less. These figures reflect widespread income fragility and the inability of many workers to meet basic living needs.
The nature of protests in 2025 was described as short-lived and limited in scope. Sit-ins accounted for 50% of protests, 37.5% were threats of protest, and only 12.5% were strikes. Half of the protests lasted just one day.
The report found that 87.5% of protests failed to achieve any demands, while partial success was recorded in only one case. No protest resulted in full satisfaction of demands. These outcomes underscore the limited effectiveness of protests in achieving tangible results.
Additionally, 75% of protests took place outside any union framework, reflecting weak union representation in Jordan. This weakness renders protests more akin to short-term spontaneous reactions, lacking organization and sustainable collective bargaining power.
The report highlighted that the absence of effective union structures stems from longstanding structural and legislative restrictions that have hindered union development. As a result, large segments of workers remain outside any organizational framework capable of defending their rights or negotiating on their behalf.
This reality weakens workers’ bargaining power, exposes them to deteriorating working conditions, and limits their ability to transform grievances into impactful collective action.
The report concluded that the decline in labor protests in Jordan during 2025 should not be interpreted as an improvement in the labor market. Instead, it reflects the interplay of economic and social factors most notably high unemployment, low wages, increased job insecurity, weak union organization, and declining confidence in protest as an effective pressure tool.
It stressed that these findings reveal a fundamental paradox: labor grievances persist, yet the ability to express them has diminished. Addressing this requires deeper reforms to the structure of the labor market, not just responses to protest activity.
