Unlocking Jordan’s Potential: The Urgent Need for Affordable Childcare to Empower Women in the Workforce

This article explores the findings of a World Bank report on the state of childcare in Jordan, highlighting the barriers that prevent women from joining the workforce. It emphasizes the need for affordable, accessible childcare to boost women’s labor force participation and outlines key recommendations for policy and programmatic action.

In Jordan, where only 15 percent of women aged 15 to 64 participate in the labor market, a new report reveals that expanding access to affordable, quality childcare could be a game-changer for the country’s economy. According to the World Bank’s report titled "Formal Childcare in Jordan: Limited Services and Unmet Demand," addressing the childcare crisis could significantly boost women’s labor force participation, potentially adding up to 7.3 percentage points.

The Childcare Crisis: A Barrier to Women’s Employment

The report paints a stark picture of the challenges Jordanian women face when balancing work and family responsibilities. With over half of women with children unable to work due to family obligations, and mothers spending nearly 80 percent of their time on care activities, the need for accessible childcare is clear. The current landscape in Jordan is bleak: the total capacity of licensed childcare facilities serves less than 3 percent of the 1.48 million children under the age of five.

Urban and populous governorates might seem to have the most childcare facilities, but there is a significant mismatch between the availability of these services and the actual demand. The shortage of accessible, affordable childcare options forces many mothers to stay home, hindering their ability to contribute to the workforce.

High Costs, Low Accessibility: The Challenges of Formal Childcare

One of the major barriers to accessing childcare in Jordan is the cost. The report highlights that families, especially those from lower-income neighborhoods, struggle to afford licensed nurseries. In Amman, center-based facilities charge nearly double the fees of those in other governorates, making it difficult for many families to afford childcare. This financial burden falls heavily on mothers, with 40 percent of surveyed families reporting that mothers bear the full cost of childcare, often exceeding one-quarter of their monthly income.

Additionally, the lack of nurseries near workplaces further limits access, forcing many mothers to opt out of the workforce altogether. The high reservation wage—the minimum wage mothers are willing to accept to return to work—exceeds the average wage, making formal childcare an unattainable luxury for many.

Social Norms and Quality Concerns

Beyond the logistical and financial challenges, social norms and perceptions also play a significant role in the low uptake of formal childcare services. In Jordan, there is a strong expectation that childcare support should come from within the family. Over one-third of surveyed women expressed a preference for private childcare services if they were more affordable and accessible. However, many women also voiced concerns about the quality and safety of available services.

Parents place a high value on their children’s emotional and social development, preferring nurseries that provide a safe environment and caregivers who are passionate and communicative. Yet, the current licensing framework in Jordan mainly focuses on infrastructure and caregiver qualifications, without adequately addressing these softer, but equally important, aspects of childcare quality.

A Path Forward: Recommendations for Policy and Action

The report provides a roadmap for improving Jordan’s childcare system, focusing on five key areas. First, it calls for strengthening the institutional framework to ensure coherence at the national level. This includes developing policies that support a diverse range of childcare provision models, particularly those targeting vulnerable households.

Second, the report recommends incentivizing the growth of the childcare sector through financial support for the establishment and operation of nurseries. This could involve offering subsidies or tax breaks to encourage private investment in childcare facilities.

Improving the quality of childcare is also crucial. This means not only enhancing the training and qualifications of caregivers but also addressing the broader social norms that influence childcare decisions. Raising awareness about the benefits of formal childcare and ensuring parents have access to accurate information can help shift public perception and increase demand.

Lastly, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing informational asymmetries and lack of awareness, which currently hinder the uptake of childcare services. This includes educating employers about their legal obligations to provide childcare support and the potential business benefits of doing so.

Jordan stands at a crossroads. By investing in affordable, quality childcare, the country can unlock the potential of thousands of women, enabling them to join the workforce and contribute to the nation’s economic growth. The findings from the World Bank’s report underscore the urgent need for a coordinated effort to address the childcare crisis, offering a pathway to a more inclusive and prosperous future for Jordan.