New Work Opportunities for Women (NOW) Pilot Impact Evaluation 2010-2013 (Jordan)

Abstract

Throughout the Middle East, unemployment rates of educated youth have been persistently high and female labor force participation, low. Researchers from the World Bank studied the impact of a randomized experiment in Jordan designed to assist female community college graduates find employment. One group of graduates was given wage subsidy vouchers that could be redeemed by their employers for up to six months for a value equivalent to the prevailing minimum wage; a second group was invited to attend 45 hours of soft skills training; a third group was offered both interventions; and the fourth group formed the control group.

To conduct the study, researchers chose eight public community colleges with the largest female enrolment numbers. Four colleges were in Central Jordan (Amman University College, Princess Alia University College, Al-Salt College, Zarqa University College) and four in Northern and Southern Jordan (Al-Huson University College for Engineering, Irbid University College, Ajloun University College, and Al-Karak University College).

Four individual level survey questionnaires were administered during the impact evaluation study. The baseline survey was conducted in July 2010, the midline - in April 2011, the first endline was carried out in December 2011, and the second endline - in January 2013.