Syrian women refugees in Jordan: opportunity in the gig economy

Year Published:

Abstract

The gig economy refers to labour-market activities that are coordinated via mobile platforms, which are increasingly bringing together workers and purchasers of their services locally and globally. Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Jordan’s almost 660,000 registered Syrian refugees account for nearly one in ten people in that country. The ability of refugees to secure a livelihood to support themselves and their families is a paramount policy concern for at least two reasons. Refugees, particularly women, face significant barriers in accessing the paid labour market. Moreover, humanitarian assistance is typically short-term in nature and subject to funding shortfalls. The gig economy may offer a potential solution by expanding paid work opportunities across national boundaries and enabling workers to overcome several constraints to engagement. This report is a first effort to bring together evidence from Jordan and elsewhere to assess the extent to which the gig economy provides an option to improve the labour market prospects of Syrian women refugees in Jordan.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What strategies improve the outcomes of refugee women in employment programs?

This evidence summary, authored by Switchboard, summarizes the state of available evidence regarding strategies to improve the employment rates of refugee women in employment programs. Limited but growing evidence shows positive impacts of national policies on the employment rates of refugees. Canada’s Educational Credential Assessment requirement for economic migrants and private sponsorship programs has shown…

About this study

AGE: Adults

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Inconclusive or mixed impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: Jordan

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: Upper Middle

INTERVENTION DURATION: Varies

INTERVENTION: Women's employment intervention

OUTCOME AREA: Employment>Employment attainment

POPULATION: Refugees

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Middle East

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2017

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