The European Union, Belgium, and Jordan convened the first policy dialogue on Active Labour Market Policies in Amman on 7 July 2026, aiming to rethink employability in the face of economic volatility and regional instability. The event, titled “Employability in an Age of Shocks,” was held under the EU-funded Employment and Livelihood Programme (ELP) and organized by Enabel, the Belgian development agency. It brought together government officials, ambassadors, and experts to address the mismatch between traditional education-to-employment models and a labour market increasingly defined by frequent transitions and short-term roles.
The dialogue opened with remarks by EU Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Belgian Ambassador Serge Dickschen, and Enabel Country Director Heidi De Pauw. Chatzisavas emphasized that the EU places skills in a lifelong learning perspective and employability at the centre of its policy agenda, both internally and in cooperation with partner countries like Jordan. Dickschen noted Belgium’s pride in contributing to the employability of Jordanians and Syrian refugees through Enabel’s vocational training experience. De Pauw stressed the need to shift from preparing young people for a single job to equipping them with skills, resilience, and adaptability for constant change.
A strategic panel discussion explored how instability reshapes employer expectations and challenges linear policy assumptions. Parallel breakout sessions examined how employers assess readiness under uncertainty and identified transferable skills, learning-to-learn capacities, and real-world exposure as key enablers. Participants agreed to develop a Policy Insight Brief titled “Employability Under Uncertainty – Implications for Skills Systems in Jordan” to capture outcomes and inform future discussions. This dialogue is the first in a series of four, marking a step toward evidence-based policymaking and better alignment of skills systems with labour market realities.
Jordanian and Syrian refugee youth may benefit from more adaptive training programs, but the shift to transferable skills could reduce immediate job-specific readiness for employers. The Jordanian Ministry of Labour gains policy insights but faces implementation challenges. EU and Belgian development agencies strengthen their cooperation framework, while Enabel expands its vocational training portfolio. The dialogue’s focus on lifelong learning and adaptability may improve long-term employability, but the lack of concrete numerical targets or funding commitments limits immediate impact.