AMMAN — Jordanian banks are hiring increasing numbers of fresh graduates, with 2,613 new employees recruited in 2024 alone, nearly half of whom were recent graduates, according to a study by the Association of Banks in Jordan (ABJ). While this signals growing opportunities for young professionals, the study reveals a significant skills gap threatening the long-term success of new talent amid the sector’s rapid digital transformation.
The ABJ’s first-quarter 2025 survey gathered insights from human resources executives across Jordan’s banking institutions. It found that the accelerating adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and automation is reshaping job demands. Although traditional roles such as tellers and customer service agents remain important, banks increasingly prioritize skills in data analytics, cybersecurity, mobile app development, and digital customer support.
Key competencies sought now include effective communication, digital literacy, and analytical thinking. However, a disconnect exists between the skills produced by higher education and the evolving needs of the financial sector. Graduates from universities with modern programs in AI and cybersecurity are favored, but over one-third of surveyed banks reported no formal training partnerships with academic institutions.
To address this gap, the ABJ recommends reforms in university curricula to integrate future-focused skills, minors in fintech and digital banking, mandatory internships, banking simulation labs, and stronger strategic partnerships between academia and the financial industry.
These local challenges reflect global trends highlighted by the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which anticipates that while 83 million jobs may disappear worldwide, 69 million new roles—largely tech-driven—will emerge.
