Another Side to the Story Jordan: A Market Assessment of Refugee, Migrant, and Jordanian-owned Businesses
In just eight years, 1.4 million forced migrants have arrived in Jordan, making roughly 1 in 14 people in the country a refugee. This influx and ongoing regional instability have meant historic unemployment rates, disrupted trade with key markets, and stagnated economic growth. In addition, the majority of Jordan’s refugees live in urban areas, which has increased competition for finite resources and job opportunities, creating tensions between refugee and host communities. Given its precarious position, the country may be further exposed to social and economic volatility that affects Jordan and the surrounding region if these issues are not addressed.
However, Jordan’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tell another story. These SMEs, which constitute 97 percent of businesses in the country’s private sector, are not only demonstrating optimism about the future but also responding to new demands by the refugee community and supplying much-needed livelihoods.
The report aims to identify businesses best positioned for scale, linkages, and investment to accelerate Jordan’s ability to generate the economic dividends and jobs needed to move the country to a position of stability and growth.