Economic pressures drive delays in marriage, financial independence — analyst

AMMAN — For decades, reaching adulthood in Jordan followed a clear path. Young adults finished university, found a steady job, bought or rented a home, and started a family.

Today, that path is under growing pressure, leaving many young Jordanians dependent on their families for longer and delaying major life milestones.

Data from the Department of Statistics (DoS) highlights the economic pressures facing young people. Youth unemployment stands at around 47 per cent among those aged 15-24, while the average age at first marriage has risen to 31.2 years for men and 27.5 years for women. These trends reflect mounting financial constraints rather than simply changing personal preferences.

Sociologist and cultural analyst Kamal Mirza said that young people should not be blamed for changing their choices.

Mirza said that it is unfair to portray young people as deliberately choosing to delay marriage or financial independence, arguing that such a view places the blame on those affected by wider economic pressures.

He said that young people today are influenced more by education and media than by traditional social institutions, while economic and political pressures continue to shape their choices in employment and family life.

He added that policymakers should bear greater responsibility for addressing these challenges rather than placing the burden on young people.

Mirza also rejected the notion that delaying marriage allows young people to mature and build their careers, stressing that the argument does not accurately reflect the social context.

“In sociology, social completeness and social respect rest on two main pillars: marriage and formal work,” Mirza said.

He said that the financial burden of marriage, combined with delayed employment due to limited job opportunities, postpones young people’s transition into adulthood.

Traditional sayings about marriage helping young men “settle down”, he added, reflect a broader social reality in which maturity is associated with stable income and family formation.

Mirza said that this delayed transition can also create wider social pressures, including frustration, social exclusion and behavioural strain among young people who work hard but remain unable to achieve expected life goals.

He stressed that economic indicators show that young people are not necessarily choosing prolonged financial dependency. Rather, structural economic factors continue to constrain their choices and force them to postpone major life milestones.

Further DoS figures highlight the financial challenges associated with establishing independent households. “More than 60 per cent of young adults earning below the national average income reportedly remain in the family home beyond the age of 25 to reduce basic living costs,” the report said.

Recent housing and population data also indicate that housing costs account for more than 35 per cent of an average young worker’s monthly income, leaving limited room for savings or long-term financial planning.

To address these pressures, local institutions have stressed the need for targeted economic support and expanded employment opportunities. According to government progress reports on economic modernisation, national initiatives have focused on strengthening technical and vocational training programmes and supporting youth-led enterprises.

Merza says that combining these efforts with affordable housing solutions is essential to easing financial pressures and enabling young adults to achieve key life milestones.

jordantimes