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Press Report on Labour Force Survey Results
Round (15)
(October – December 1999)
This report is based on the Labour Force
quarterly Survey. Data was collected for the 15th survey from 9/10/1999 to
7/1/2000, representing the fourth quarter of 1999.
The results of the 15th round
(fourth quarter of 1999) are being compared with the 14th round (third quarter
of 1999) and with the fourth quarter of 1998 (11th round). Comparison have been
made also between the results of the year 1998 and 1999.
The survey sample of this round is based on
the 1997 census, 7559 households were choosen to represent the Palestinian Society and the
results are the following:
The results show a decrease in labour force
participation of those aged 15 years and above in the Palestinian Territory between the 3rd
and 4th quarter of 1999, (i.e from 42.1% to 41.6%). It shows also a decrease
with comparison to the 4th quarter of 1998 in which the labour force reached
42.5%. The labour force participation rate in West Bank decreased while it increased in
Gaza (i.e 42.9% and 39.2% respectively) compared with the 3rd quarter of 1999
in which it reached 44.1% and 38.2% respectively. In the 4th quarter of 1998 it
reached 45% in the West Bank and 37.4% in Gaza.
The unemployment rate in the Palestinian
Territory decreased from 12.8% in the 4th quarter of 1998 to 11.6% in the 3rd
quarter of 1999 and to 10% in the 4th quarter of the same year. Unemployment
rates also decreased in West Bank and Gaza Strip to 7.5% and 15.5% respectively, compared
with the previous quarter and the 4th quarter of 1998.
With regard to distribution of employees
according to industry, there was an indication to an increase of those working in
agriculture i.e it reached 13.2% in the 4th quarter of 1999, compared with
11.6% in the 3rd quarter and 12.5% in the 4th quarter of 1998. The
results show an obvious increase in those working in agriculture in Gaza Strip, i.e the
percentage increased from 8.5% in the 4th quarter of 1998 to 14.4% in the 3rd
quarter and to 19.1% in the 4th quarter of 1999 whereas it decreased in the
West Bank from 14% in the 4th quarter of 1998 to 10.7% in the same quarter of
1999.
The results showed an obvious decrease in
those working in construction in Gaza Strip compared to the 4th quarter of 1998
and 1999, i.e it decreased from 19.8% to 16.4% while it increased between the two periods
in the West Bank i.e from 24.2% to 24.8%.
The percentage of workers in Israel and
settlements from the Palestinian Territory increased from 21.8% in the 4th
quarter of 1998 to 22.4% in the 3rd quarter of 1999 and to 22.7% in the 4th
quarter of 1999. The results also show an increase in Gaza Strip in the same period i.e
from 14.7% to 14.9% and to 16.5% No change was noticed in West Bank during the same
period.
The results show an increase in employed
workers in the Palestinian Territory i.e from 65.5% in the 4th quarter of 1998
to 68% in the same quarter of 1999. The results show an observable increase in the West
Bank (i.e from 63.7% to 67.6%) while in Gaza Strip it decreased from 70.4% to 68.9% in the
same period.
On the contrast, those working as employers
in the Palestinian Territory decreased from 6.4% in the 4th quarter of 1998 to
4.6% in the 4 th quarter of 1999. There was an obvious decrease in West Bank
and Gaza Strip i.e from 7.1% to 5.4% in the West Bank and 4.6% to 2.5% in Gaza Strip.
The Value of the nominal daily wage of the
employees in West Bank increased from 60.8 NIS in the 4th quarter of 1998 to 67 NIS in the
3rd quarter of 1999 and to 67.8 in the 4th quarter of the same year,
a net increase of 7 NIS. In Gaza Strip the average daily wage increased from 48.1 NIS in
the 4th quarter of 1998 to 50.9 NIS in the 3rd quarter of 1999 and to 52.7 NIS
in the 4th quarter of 1999. The Average daily wage for those working in Israel
and settlements increased form 101.8 NIS to 107.7 NIS and to 107.8 NIS in the 4th
quarter of 1999.
The most important changes in the labour
market between year 1998 and 1999:
- A little increase in the percentage of the labour force
participation in the Palestinian Territory i.e from 41.4% in 1998 to 41.6% in 1999, it
decreased in West Bank from 44.2% to 43.5% while it increased in Gaza Strip from 36.4% to
38% .
- The unemployment rate decreased obviously in the Palestinian
Territory, i.e from 14.4% in 1998 to 11.8% in 1999, the decrease was in West Bank from
11.5% to 9.6% while in Gaza Strip it was from 20.9% to 16.9%.
- The percentage of those working in agriculture in the
Palestinian Territory increased from 12.1% to 12.7%. The real increase was of those
working in agriculture in Gaza Strip, in which the percentage increased from 8% to 15.2%
(nearly double) whereas in the West Bank it decreased from 13.8% to 11.7% between 1998 and
1999 respectively.
- Regarding those working in construction, the percentage in
the West Bank increased from 22.7% to 24.1%, while it decreased in Gaza Strip from 20.5%
to 17.8%. The net effect in the Palestinian Territory was a little increase in the
percentage i.e from 22% to 22.3%
- The percentage of those working in the public sector in Gaza
Strip increased form 37.8% in the year 1998 to 38.8% in the year 1999, on the other hand,
there was an increase in this percentage in the West Bank i.e from 21.3% to 22% with a net
increase from 26.6% to 27.1% in the Palestinian Territory.
- On the other hand, the percentage of those working in the
private sector in the Palestinian Territory remain constant between 1998 and 1999, (i.e it
was 68.8%) but there was a change in the West Bank and Gaza Strip separately, it decreased
in the West Bank from 75.3% to 74.7% while it increased in Gaza Strip from 54.7% to 55.2%
- There was an increase in the percentage of employees from
the Palestinian Territory working in Israel and settlements, i.e from 21.7% to 22.7%. It
increased from 24% to 25.6% in the West Bank, while it decreased in Gaza Strip from 16.2%
to 15.7%.
- There was a decrease in the percentage of the self employed
in the Palestinian Territory from 21% to 18.8%. It decreased in the West Bank from 21.5%
to 18.7% and from 19.7 to 19.1% in Gaza Strip.
- The percentage of the wage employees in the Palestinian
Territory went from 65.3% to 67.7%. It increased obviously in the West Bank from 63% to
66.3%, while no change was noticed in Gaza Strip, (i.e from 71.0% to 71.1%).
- The nominal value of the average daily wage in NIS for those
working in Israel and settlements increased from 100 NIS in 1998 to 105.7 NIS in 1999,
while for those in the West Bank it increased from 57.6 NIS to 65.9 NIS. Also in Gaza
Strip it increased from 47.5 NIS to 51.4 NIS.
Main Findings
Population aged 15 years and above
- The percentage of the population aged 15 years and over is
53.2% at the end of 1999.
- The labour force participation rate reached 41.6% in the
Palestinian Territory, 42.9% in the West Bank and 39.2% in Gaza Strip.
The distribution of labour force
participants aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by labour force
components and region is as follows:
Region |
Full Employment |
Underemployment |
Unemployment |
Total (%) |
West Bank |
86.4 |
6.1 |
7.5 |
100 |
Gaza Strip |
83.1 |
1.4 |
15.5 |
100 |
Palestinian Territory |
85.4 |
4.6 |
10.0 |
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 (%) |
West Bank |
2.0 |
98.0 |
100 |
Gaza Strip |
0.5 |
99.5 |
100 |
Palestinian Territory |
1.4 |
98.6 |
100 |
3-3 Employment
Employed persons aged 15 years and over in
the Palestinian Territory are distributed by employment status as follows:
Employment Status |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Palestinian Territory (%) |
Employer |
5.4 |
2.5 |
4.6 |
Self Employed |
19.3 |
19.3 |
19.3 |
Wage Employee |
67.6 |
68.9 |
68.0 |
Unpaid Family
Member |
7.7 |
9.3 |
8.1 |
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Employed Persons aged 15 years and over in
the Palestinian Territory are Distributed by Industry and Region as Follows:
Industry |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Palestinian Territory (%) |
Agriculture, fishing and forestry |
10.7 |
19.1 |
13.2 |
Mining, quarrying and
manufacturing |
16.8 |
12.9 |
15.7 |
Construction |
24.8 |
16.4 |
22.3 |
Commerce, restaurants
and hotels |
18.3 |
12.6 |
16.6 |
Transportation,
storage and communication |
5.5 |
4.9 |
5.3 |
Services and other
branches |
23.9 |
34.1 |
26.9 |
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 aged 15 years and over according aged 15 years
and over to Place of Work are as follows:
| |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Israel and Settlements |
Average
weekly work hours |
44.4 |
43.6 |
45.7 |
Average monthly work
days |
24.0 |
24.5 |
20.3 |
Median
daily net wage in NIS |
61.5 |
50.0 |
100.0 |
Average daily net wage
in NIS |
67.8 |
52.7 |
107.8 |
3-4 Unemployment
- The unemployment rate for people aged 15 years and over in
the Palestinian Territory reached 10.0% on average specifically 7.5% in West Bank and
15.5% in Gaza Strip.
Distribution of Unemployment for people aged
15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Age and Sex:
Age |
Male (%) |
Female (%) |
Total (%) |
15-19 |
18.2 |
4.1 |
17.4 |
20-24 |
11.2 |
22.8 |
12.8 |
25-29 |
10.8 |
15.6 |
11.6 |
30-34 |
6.8 |
9.7 |
7.2 |
35-39 |
7.8 |
12.0 |
8.5 |
40-44 |
8.6 |
4.1 |
7.8 |
45-49 |
9.2 |
2.3 |
7.9 |
50+ |
7.3 |
4.5 |
6.7 |
Overall Average |
9.9 |
11.0 |
10.0 |
Distribution of Unemployment for people aged
15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Age and Region:
Age |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Total (%) |
15-19 |
15.4 |
22.6 |
17.4 |
20-24 |
7.9 |
24.0 |
12.8 |
25-29 |
8.4 |
18.3 |
11.6 |
30-34 |
5.2 |
11.5 |
7.2 |
35-39 |
7.1 |
11.5 |
8.5 |
40-44 |
5.6 |
12.1 |
7.8 |
45-49 |
6.3 |
11.0 |
7.9 |
50+ |
4.8 |
10.5 |
6.7 |
Overall Average |
7.5 |
15.5 |
10.0 |
Distribution of Unemployment for people aged
15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Years of Schooling and Sex:
Years of Schooling |
Male (%) |
Female (%) |
Total (%) |
0 |
11.7 |
0.2 |
5.7 |
1-6 |
10.8 |
1.7 |
9.7 |
7-9 |
10.9 |
7.0 |
10.6 |
10-12 |
9.6 |
9.3 |
9.5 |
13+ |
7.8 |
19.3 |
11.0 |
Overall
Average |
9.9 |
11.0 |
10.0 |
Distribution of Unemployment for people aged
15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Years of Schooling and Region:
Years of Schooling |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Total (%) |
0 |
4.6 |
8.1 |
5.7 |
1-6 |
6.3 |
16.3 |
9.7 |
7-9 |
9.8 |
12.9 |
10.6 |
10-12 |
7.0 |
14.6 |
9.5 |
13+ |
7.0 |
19.3 |
11.0 |
Overall
Average |
7.5 |
15.5 |
10.0 |
3-5 Persons outside labour force
- The percentage of persons aged 15 years and over outside the
labour force in the Palestinian Territory reached 58.4% of which 57.1% in the West Bank
and 60.8% in Gaza Strip.
Persons aged 15 years and over outside the
labour force in the Palestinian Territory are distributed by reason and region as follows:
Reason |
West Bank (%) |
Gaza Strip (%) |
Palestinian Territory (%) |
Old/ill |
9.9 |
9.0 |
9.6 |
Housewife |
56.0 |
53.0 |
55.0 |
Studying
or training |
24.8 |
29.0 |
26.3 |
Others |
9.3 |
9.0 |
9.1 |
Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
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 |
86.0 |
6.6 |
7.4 |
100 |
71.8 |
28.2 |
Female |
88.6 |
3.2 |
8.2 |
100 |
13.7 |
86.3 |
Total |
86.4 |
6.1 |
7.5 |
100 |
42.9 |
57.1 |
Gaza Strip |
|
Male |
83.2 |
1.7 |
15.1 |
100 |
66.8 |
33.2 |
Female |
82.3 |
0.3 |
17.4 |
100 |
11.6 |
88.4 |
Total |
83.1 |
1.4 |
15.5 |
100 |
39.2 |
60.8 |
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
(October-December, 1999): Percentage
| Labour Force
Status |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Palestinian
Territory |
| Both Sexes |
|
| population aged 15 years and
over ( Man Power) |
55.1 |
49.8 |
53.2 |
| Full employment
(working full time: 35 hours and above) |
37.1 |
32.6 |
35.5 |
| Working less than usual (lack of
employment) |
0.4 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
| Working in poor
conditions or for insufficient income |
2.2 |
0.5 |
1.6 |
| Did not work and seeking job |
3.2 |
6.1 |
4.2 |
| Did not work and
did not seek job due to discouragement |
5.3 |
5.4 |
5.3 |
| Did not work – old or ill |
5.7 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
| Did not work
– Housewife |
32.0 |
32.2 |
32.1 |
| Did not work – Students |
14.1 |
17.6 |
15.4 |
| Population
less than 15 years |
44.9 |
50.2 |
46.8 |
| Total Population |
100% |
100% |
100% |
| Male |
|
| Population aged 15 years and
over ( Man Power) |
54.7 |
49.6 |
52.8 |
| Full
employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
61.8 |
55.6 |
59.7 |
| Working less than usual (lack of
employment) |
0.8 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
| Working in poor
conditions or for insufficient income |
4.0 |
0.9 |
2.9 |
| Did not work and seeking job |
5.3 |
10.1 |
6.9 |
| Did not work and
did not seek job due to discouragement |
8.2 |
9.4 |
8.6 |
| Did not work – old or ill |
6.2 |
4.9 |
5.8 |
| Did not work
– Housewife |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
| Did not work – Students |
13.1 |
18.4 |
14.9 |
| Population
less than 15 years |
45.3 |
50.4 |
47.2 |
| Total Population |
100% |
100% |
100% |
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
(October-December, 1999): Absolute Numbers
| Labour Force
Status |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Palestinian
Territory |
| Both Sexes |
|
| population aged 15 years and
over ( Man Power) |
1,086,000 |
554,000 |
1,640,000 |
| Full employment
(working full time: 35 hours and above) |
403,000 |
181,000 |
584,000 |
| Working less than usual (lack of
employment) |
4,000 |
1,000 |
5,000 |
| Working in poor
conditions or for insufficient income |
24,000 |
3,000 |
27,000 |
| Did not work and seeking job |
35,000 |
34,000 |
69,000 |
| Did not work and
did not seek job due to discouragement |
58,000 |
30,000 |
88,000 |
| Did not work – old or ill |
62,000 |
30,000 |
92,000 |
| Did not work
– Housewife |
347,000 |
178,000 |
525,000 |
| Did not work – Students |
153,000 |
97,000 |
250,000 |
| Population
less than 15 years |
886,000 |
559,000 |
1,445,000 |
| Total Population |
1,972,000 |
1,113,000 |
3,085,000 |
| Male |
|
| Population aged 15 years and
over ( Man Power) |
545,000 |
278,000 |
823,000 |
| Full
employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
337,000 |
155,000 |
492,000 |
| Working less than usual (lack of
employment) |
4,000 |
1,000 |
5,000 |
| Working in poor
conditions or for insufficient income |
22,000 |
2,000 |
24,000 |
| Did not work and seeking job |
29,000 |
28,000 |
57,000 |
| Did not work and
did not seek job due to discouragement |
45,000 |
26,000 |
71,000 |
| Did not work – old or ill |
34,000 |
14,000 |
48,000 |
| Did not work
– Housewife |
3,000 |
1,000 |
4,000 |
| Did not work – Students |
71,000 |
51,000 |
122,000 |
| Population
less than 15 years |
452,000 |
283,000 |
735,000 |
| Total Population |
997,000 |
561,000 |
1,558,000 |
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