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Labour Force Survey
Press Release on The Results of Survey
(April – June, 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 April 10, to 10 July 1999. The study is based on a sample of about 7,559 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 41.5% of which 43.4% in the West Bank and 37.8% in the Gaza Strip.
The unemployment rate reached 19.1% in the Gaza Strip and 9.7% in the West Bank.
On the other hand, the underemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is 2.5% and in the West Bank 6.6%. This means that the combined unemployment and underemployment rate was 17.9% in the Palestinian Territory, 21.6% in the Gaza Strip and 16.3% in the West Bank.
The percentage of Palestinians employed in Israel and Israeli Settlements 23.5%. The percentage of persons employed in industry is as follows: 15.3% in agriculture, 14.6% in mining, quarrying and manufacturing, 14.9% in commerce, hotels and restaurants, 4.2% in communication, storage and transportation, 23.0% in construction and 28.0% 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 41.5% in the Palestinian Territory, 43.4% in the West Bank and 37.8% in Gaza Strip.
The distribution of labour force participants aged 15 years
and higher in the Palestinian Territory by labour force components and region is as
follows:
|
Full Employment |
Underemployment |
Unemployment |
Total (%) |
West Bank |
83.7 |
6.6 |
9.7 |
100 |
Gaza Strip |
78.4 |
2.5 |
19.1 |
100 |
Palestinian
Territory |
82.1 |
5.3 |
12.6 |
100 |
|
The distribution of Children 10-14 Years in the Palestinian
Territory by labour force components and region is as follows:
Region |
Labour Force |
Outside Labour Force |
Total (%) |
Employment |
Unemployment |
Total (%) |
WestBank |
2.8 |
97.2 |
100 |
94.2 |
5.8 |
100 |
Gaza Strip |
1.2 |
98.8 |
100 |
59.3 |
40.7 |
100 |
PalestinianTerritory |
2.2 |
97.8 |
100 |
86.9 |
13.1 |
100 |
|
3-3 Employment
Employed persons aged 15 years and higher in the Palestinian
Territory are distributed participants by employment status as follows:
Employment Status |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Palestinian Territory (%) |
Employer |
6.2 |
3.2 |
5.3 |
Self Employed |
18.8 |
17.4 |
18.4 |
Wage Employee |
65.8 |
72.3 |
67.7 |
Unpaid Family Member |
9.2 |
7.1 |
8.6 |
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Employed Persons aged 15 years and higher in the Palestinian
Territory are Distributed by Industry and Region as Follows:
Industry |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Palestinian Territory (%) |
Agriculture, fishing
and forestry |
14.7 |
16.6 |
15.3 |
Mining, quarrying and
manufacturing |
16.3 |
10.4 |
14.6 |
Construction |
25.0 |
18.2 |
23.0 |
Commerce, restaurants
and hotels |
16.1 |
11.9 |
14.9 |
Transportation, storage
and communication |
4.0 |
4.6 |
4.2 |
Services and other
branches |
23.9 |
38.3 |
28.0 |
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
|
Work days and hours and wages
The average weekly work hours, average monthly work days and
average daily wage per employee according aged 15 years and higher to Place of Work are as
follows:
|
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Israeland Settlements |
Average
weekly work hours |
44.0 |
43.0 |
45.0 |
Average
monthly work days |
23.0 |
24.0 |
20.0 |
Median
daily net wage in NIS |
57.7 |
46.2 |
100.0 |
Average
daily net wage in NIS |
64.2 |
52.4 |
102.7 |
|
3-4 Unemployment
- The unemployment rate aged 15 years and higher in the Palestinian
Territory reached 12.6% on average specifically 9.7% in West Bank and 19.1% in Gaza Strip.
Distribution of Unemployment aged 15 years and higher in the
Palestinian Territory by Age and Sex:
Age |
Male (%) |
Female (%) |
Total (%) |
15-19 |
18.9 |
7.8 |
18.2 |
20-24 |
18.1 |
20.1 |
18.3 |
25-29 |
13.1 |
19.7 |
14.1 |
30-34 |
10.2 |
15.6 |
11.1 |
35-39 |
8.8 |
9.9 |
9.0 |
40-44 |
8.5 |
4.3 |
7.9 |
45-49 |
11.5 |
8.3 |
11.0 |
50+ |
9.2 |
1.0 |
7.7 |
Over all Average |
12.7 |
12.2 |
12.6 |
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Distribution of Unemployment aged 15 years and higher in the
Palestinian Territory by Age and Region:
Age |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Total (%) |
15-19 |
12.2 |
35.8 |
18.2 |
20-24 |
14.2 |
28.0 |
18.3 |
25-29 |
11.2 |
20.9 |
14.1 |
30-34 |
10.2 |
13.2 |
11.1 |
35-39 |
6.9 |
12.7 |
9.0 |
40-44 |
6.3 |
11.2 |
7.9 |
45-49 |
7.6 |
17.0 |
11.0 |
50+ |
4.2 |
16.4 |
7.7 |
Over all Average |
9.7 |
19.1 |
12.6 |
|
Distribution of Unemployment aged 15 years and higher in the
Palestinian Territory by years of schooling and Sex:
Years of Schooling |
Male (%) |
Female (%) |
Total (%) |
0 |
11.2 |
- |
6.0 |
1-6 |
14.7 |
1.8 |
13.1 |
7-9 |
12.2 |
5.0 |
11.7 |
10-12 |
14.0 |
9.3 |
13.6 |
13+ |
9.2 |
23.6 |
13.2 |
Over all Average |
12.7 |
12.2 |
12.6 |
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Distribution of Unemployment aged 15 years and higher in the
Palestinian Territory by years of schooling and Region:
Years of Schooling |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Total (%) |
0 |
3.1 |
14.8 |
6.0 |
1-6 |
8.3 |
22.4 |
13.1 |
7-9 |
9.7 |
17.3 |
11.7 |
10-12 |
10.7 |
19.8 |
13.6 |
13+ |
10.9 |
17.6 |
13.2 |
Over all Average |
9.7 |
19.1 |
12.6 |
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3-5 Persons outside labour force
- The percentage of persons aged 15 years and higher outside labour force
in the Palestinian Territory reached 58.5% of which 56.6% in the West Bank and 62.2% in
Gaza Strip.
Persons aged 15 years and higher outside labour force in the
Palestinian Territory are distributed by reason and region as follows:
Reason |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Palestinian Territory (%) |
Old/ill |
10.9 |
10.4 |
10.7 |
Home making |
55.0 |
54.3 |
54.7 |
Studying or training |
25.4 |
28.8 |
26.6 |
Others |
8.7 |
6.5 |
8.0 |
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
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3-6 Labour Force Status: Further details
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:
Region and Sex |
Employed
(%) |
Under-employed
(%) |
Unemployed
(%) |
Total
(%) |
Labour Force
(%) |
Outside Labour
Force (%) |
West Bank |
|
Male |
83.0 |
7.3 |
9.7 |
100 |
71.3 |
28.7 |
Female |
87.6 |
3.0 |
9.4 |
100 |
14.5 |
85.5 |
Total |
83.7 |
6.6 |
9.7 |
100 |
43.4 |
56.6 |
Gaza Strip |
|
Male |
78.6 |
2.5 |
18.9 |
100 |
66.5 |
33.5 |
Female |
76.5 |
2.4 |
21.1 |
100 |
8.4 |
91.6 |
Total |
78.4 |
2.5 |
19.1 |
100 |
37.8 |
62.2 |
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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 (April-June, 1999): Percentage
Labour Force Status |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Palestinian Territory |
Both Sexes |
|
Population aged 15
years and over ( Man Power) |
55.1 |
49.6 |
53.1 |
Full employment (working
full time: 35 hours and above) |
36.3 |
29.7 |
34.1 |
Working less than usual
(lack of employment) |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
Working in poor conditions
or for insufficient income |
2.1 |
0.7 |
1.6 |
Did not work and seeking
job |
4.2 |
7.2 |
5.2 |
Did not work and did not
seek job due to discouragement |
5.0 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
Did not work – old or
ill |
6.2 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
Did not work – Home
duties |
31.1 |
33.7 |
32.0 |
Did not work –
Students |
14.4 |
17.9 |
15.5 |
Population less than 15
years |
44.9 |
50.4 |
46.9 |
Total Population |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Male |
|
Population aged 15
years and over ( Man Power) |
54.7 |
49.2 |
52.7 |
Full employment (working
full time: 35 hours and above) |
59.2 |
52.3 |
56.8 |
Working less than usual
(lack of employment) |
1.4 |
0.4 |
1.0 |
Working in poor conditions
or for insufficient income |
3.9 |
1.3 |
3.0 |
Did not work and seeking
job |
6.9 |
12.5 |
8.8 |
Did not work and did not
seek job due to discouragement |
7.3 |
7.1 |
7.2 |
Did not work – old or
ill |
6.6 |
7.0 |
6.8 |
Did not work – Home
duties |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
Did not work –
Students |
14.1 |
18.7 |
15.7 |
Population less than 15
years |
45.3 |
50.8 |
47.3 |
Total Population |
100% |
100% |
100% |
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The following table presents the estimated absolute number of
distribution of population in the working age by activity status.
Population 15 Years and Above by region and Labor Force Status (April-June, 1999): Absolute Numbers
|
Labour Force Status |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Palestinian Territory |
|
Both Sexes |
|
|
population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power) |
1,065,000 |
539,000 |
1,604,000 |
|
Full employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
384,000 |
158,000 |
542,000 |
|
Working less than usual (lack of employment) |
8,000 |
1,000 |
9,000 |
|
Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income |
23,000 |
4,000 |
27,000 |
|
Did not work and seeking job |
44,000 |
39,000 |
83,000 |
|
Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement |
53,000 |
21,000 |
74,000 |
|
Did not work – old or ill |
65,000 |
35,000 |
100,000 |
|
Did not work – Home duties |
335,000 |
185,000 |
520,000 |
|
Did not work – Students |
153,000 |
96,000 |
249,000 |
|
Population less than 15 years |
868,000 |
548,000 |
1,416,000 |
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Total Population |
1,933,000 |
1,087,000 |
3,020,000 |
|
Male |
|
|
Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power) |
535,000 |
270,000 |
805,000 |
|
Full employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
317,000 |
141,000 |
458,000 |
|
Working less than usual (lack of employment) |
8,000 |
1,000 |
9,000 |
|
Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income |
21,000 |
4,000 |
25,000 |
|
Did not work and seeking job |
37,000 |
34,000 |
71,000 |
|
Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement |
39,000 |
19,000 |
58,000 |
|
Did not work – old or ill |
35,000 |
19,000 |
54,000 |
|
Did not work – Home duties |
3,000 |
2,000 |
5,000 |
|
Did not work – Students |
75,000 |
50,000 |
125,000 |
|
Population less than 15 years |
442,000 |
278,000 |
720,000 |
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Total Population |
977,000 |
548,000 |
1,525,000 |
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