Labour Force Survey
Press Release on The Results of Survey
(January –March, 1999)

In its efforts to provide official statistical data at the national level, and in view of the fact that developmental and social planning in Palestine requires a supply of credible statistics in all sectors of Palestinian society, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) is conducting a labour force survey programme, comprised of series of household surveys on labour force on a biannual basis. The surveys are conducted on a quarterly (every 3 months) basis the first one was conducted in July 1996.

Data were collected in the period January 9, 1999 to 9 April. The study is based on a sample of about 7,580 household for each quarter of the year.

The data consists of the main statistical indicators related to the Palestinian labour force, and the analysis of the main characteristics of the Palestinian labour force pertaining to the following: labour force distribution, occupation, industry, number of working hours and wages. The data covering unemployment and its main characteristics, and the unemployed and their distribution by age, sex and education. As well, survey studies underemployment.

The survey provided 30 employment opportunities in the area of households listing, in addition to the training of 30 individuals during the course of the survey.

The main findings of the survey show that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) in the Palestinian Territories reached 41.1% of which 43.2% in the West Bank and 36.5% in the Gaza Strip.

The unemployment rate reached 18.9% in the Gaza Strip and 11.8% in the West Bank.

On the other hand, the underemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is 2.1% and in the West Bank 7.5%. This means that the combined unemployment and underemployment rate was 19.8% in the Palestinian Territory, 21.0% in the Gaza Strip and 19.3% in the West Bank.

The percentage of Palestinians employed in Israel and Israeli Settlements 23.6%. The percentage of persons employed in industry is as follows: 12.7% in agriculture, 15.0% in mining, quarrying and manufacturing, 17.6% in commerce, hotels and restaurants, 4.2% in communication, storage and transportation, 21.4% in construction and 29.1% in services and other branches.

Finally, the survey’s plan fully follows the United Nations (UN) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and recommendations, taking into account the characteristics the Palestinian society. The survey provides data, which may be, used the various PNA ministries, research institutions, as well as independent researchers.

Main Findings

Population aged 15 years and above

• The percentage of population aged 15 years and higher is 53.1%
• The labour force participation rate reached 41.1% in the Palestinian Territory, 43.3% in the West Bank and 36.6% in Gaza Strip.

3-3 Employment

Employed persons are distributed by employment status as follows:

Employed Persons in the Palestinian Territory are Distributed by Industry and Region as Follows:

Work days and hours and wages

The average weekly work hours, average monthly work days and average daily wage per employee according to Place of Work are as follows:

• The unemployment rate in the Palestinian Territory reached 13.9% on average specifically 11.8% in West Bank and 18.9% in Gaza Strip.

Distribution of Unemployment by years of schooling and Sex:

• The percentage of persons outside labour force in the Palestinian Territory reached 58.9% of which 56.7% in the West Bank and 63.4% in Gaza Strip.

Population in the working age (15 years and above) are distributed according to the ILO standard classification of labour force framework by sex and labour force status as follows:

The circumstances of the Palestinian labour market assume taking into account the detailed information concerning the activity status of population in the working age. The following table presents the relative distribution of population in the working age by activity status.

Population 15 Years and Above by region and Labor Force Status
(January-March, 1999): Percentage

The following table presents the estimated absolute number of distribution of population in the working age by activity status.

Concepts and Definitions

Man power

All persons in the West Bank and Gaza Strip aged 15 years and above.

The week ending on Friday preceding the interviewer’s visit to the household.

All persons are 15 years and older who were working at a paid job or business for at least one hour during the reference week, or who did not work, but held a job or owned business from which they were temporarily absent (because of illness, vacation, temporarily stoppage, or any other reason) during the reference week. Employed persons are classified according to employment status as follows:

1. Employer
2. Own-account worker (self-employed)
3. Employee
4. Unpaid family member

Unemployed persons are those individuals 15 years and older who did not work at all during the reference week, who were not absent from a job and were available for work and actively seeking a job during the reference week. Persons who work in Israel and were absent from work due to closure are considered unemployed.

The economically active population (Labour Force) consists of all persons 15 years and above who are either employed or unemployed as defined above at the time of survey.

Underemployment exists when a person’s employment is inadequate in relation to alternative employment, account being taken of his/her occupational skills. The underemployed persons are classified into two groups:

1. Visible underemployment
2. Invisible underemployment

The population not economically active comprises all persons 15 years and over, who were neither employed nor unemployed accordingly to the definitions above.