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Press Release
On The Results of Survey (July – September, 1999) Round
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 program, 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 July 10 , to October 8 1999. The study is based on a sample of 7,559 household for this quarter.
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
42.1% of which 44.1% in the West Bank and 38.2% in the Gaza Strip.
The unemployment rate reached 16.2% in the Gaza Strip and 9.6% in the West Bank.
On the other hand, the underemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is 1.3% and in the West Bank 7.8%. This means that the combined unemployment and underemployment rate was 17.4% in the Palestinian Territory, 17.5% in the Gaza Strip and 17.4% in the West Bank.
The percentage of Palestinians employed in Israel and Israeli Settlements 22.4%. The percentage of persons employed in industry is as follows: 11.7% in agriculture, 15.8% in mining, quarrying and manufacturing, 16.9% in commerce, hotels and restaurants, 4.8% in communication, storage and transportation, 22.7% in construction and 28.1% 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 the population aged 15 years and over is 53.1%. The labour force participation rate reached 42.1% in the Palestinian Territory, 44.1% in the West Bank and 38.2% 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 |
82.6 |
7.8 |
9.6 |
100 |
|
Gaza Strip
|
82.5 |
1.3 |
16.2 |
100 |
|
Palestinian Territory |
82.6 |
5.8 |
11.6 |
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 (%) |
|
West Bank |
3.2 |
96.8 |
100 |
89.0 |
11.0 |
100 |
|
Gaza Strip
|
1.0 |
99.0 |
100 |
70.3 |
29.7 |
100 |
|
Palestinian Territory |
2.4 |
97.6 |
100 |
86.0 |
14.0 |
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 |
7.0 |
2.4 |
5.7 |
|
Self Employed |
17.4 |
20.3 |
18.3 |
|
Wage Employee |
66.8 |
69.9 |
67.7 |
|
Unpaid Family Member
|
8.8 |
7.4 |
8.3 |
|
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 |
14.4 |
11.7 |
|
Mining, quarrying and manufacturing |
16.8 |
13.3 |
15.8 |
|
Construction |
24.0 |
19.4 |
22.7 |
|
Commerce, restaurants and hotels |
18.8 |
12.4 |
16.9 |
|
Transportation, storage and communication |
4.8 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
|
Services and other branches
|
24.9 |
35.7 |
28.1 |
|
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 |
45.7 |
43.8 |
43.2 |
|
Average monthly work days |
23.9 |
24.1 |
20.8 |
|
Median daily net wage in NIS |
60.0 |
46.2 |
100.0 |
|
Average daily net wage in NIS |
67.0 |
50.9 |
107.7 |
|
3-4 Unemployment
- The unemployment rate for people aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory reached 11.6% on average specifically 9.6% in West Bank and 16.2% 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 |
17.6 |
6.3 |
16.7 |
|
20-24 |
14.6 |
27.4 |
16.3 |
|
25-29 |
11.9 |
15.7 |
12.5 |
|
30-34 |
8.4 |
13.2 |
9.1 |
|
35-39 |
10.1 |
13.4 |
10.6 |
|
40-44 |
8.8 |
10.0 |
9.0 |
|
45-49 |
8.8 |
5.5 |
8.3 |
|
50+ |
7.5 |
3.4 |
6.7 |
|
Overall Average |
11.3 |
13.3 |
11.6 |
|
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 |
13.2 |
28.1 |
16.7 |
|
20-24 |
12.2 |
25.6 |
16.3 |
|
25-29 |
10.5 |
16.9 |
12.5 |
|
30-34 |
8.6 |
10.2 |
9.1 |
|
35-39 |
9.7 |
12.5 |
10.6 |
|
40-44 |
7.3 |
12.8 |
9.0 |
|
45-49 |
6.6 |
11.6 |
8.3 |
|
50+ |
4.9 |
11.2 |
6.7 |
|
Overall Average |
9.6 |
16.2 |
11.6 |
|
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 |
7.2 |
1.8 |
4.6 |
|
1-6 |
14.9 |
3.9 |
13.6 |
|
7-9 |
11.5 |
5.6 |
11.0 |
|
10-12 |
10.8 |
10.5 |
10.8 |
|
13+ |
9.0 |
23.1 |
12.8 |
|
Overall Average |
11.3 |
13.3 |
11.6 |
|
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 |
3.6 |
7.2 |
4.6 |
|
1-6 |
10.9 |
18.5 |
13.6 |
|
7-9 |
9.1 |
16.2 |
11.0 |
|
10-12 |
8.9 |
14.8 |
10.8 |
|
13+ |
10.9 |
17.4 |
12.8 |
|
Overall Average |
9.6 |
16.2 |
11.6 |
|
3-5 Persons outside labour force
- The percentage of persons aged 15 years and over outside the labour force in the Palestinian Territory reached 57.9% of which 55.9% in the West Bank and 61.8% 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 |
10.5 |
9.9 |
10.3 |
|
Housewife |
55.3 |
55.0 |
55.2 |
|
Studying or training |
23.9 |
27.7 |
25.2 |
|
Others |
10.3 |
7.4 |
9.3 |
|
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 |
82.3 |
8.5 |
9.2 |
100 |
73.4 |
26.6 |
|
Female |
84.2 |
4.3 |
11.5 |
100 |
14.6 |
85.4 |
|
Total |
82.6 |
7.8 |
9.6 |
100 |
44.1 |
55.9 |
|
Gaza Strip |
|
|
Male |
82.9 |
1.3 |
15.8 |
100 |
67.6 |
32.4 |
|
Female |
79.7 |
0.9 |
19.4 |
100 |
8.7 |
91.3 |
|
Total |
82.5 |
1.3 |
16.2 |
100 |
38.2 |
61.8 |
|
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
(July-September, 1999): Percentage
|
Labour Force Status |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Palestinian Territory |
|
Both Sexes |
|
|
population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power) |
55.1 |
49.7 |
53.1 |
|
Full employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
36.4 |
31.5 |
34.8 |
|
Working less than usual (lack of employment) |
1.0 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
|
Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income |
2.4 |
0.3 |
1.7 |
|
Did not work and seeking job |
4.2 |
6.2 |
4.9 |
|
Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement |
5.8 |
4.6 |
5.4 |
|
Did not work – old or ill |
5.8 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
|
Did not work – Housewife |
31.0 |
34.0 |
32.0 |
|
Did not work – Students |
13.4 |
17.1 |
14.5 |
|
Population less than 15 years |
44.9 |
50.3 |
46.9 |
|
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) |
60.4 |
56.0 |
58.9 |
|
Working less than usual (lack of employment) |
1.8 |
0.3 |
1.3 |
|
Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income |
4.4 |
0.6 |
3.1 |
|
Did not work and seeking job |
6.7 |
10.7 |
8.1 |
|
Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement |
8.2 |
7.8 |
8.1 |
|
Did not work – old or ill |
5.9 |
5.7 |
5.8 |
|
Did not work – Housewife |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
|
Did not work – Students |
12.0 |
18.3 |
14.1 |
|
Population less than 15 years |
45.3 |
50.4 |
47.2 |
|
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
(July-September, 1999): Absolute Numbers
|
Labour Force Status |
West Bank |
Gaza Strip |
Palestinian Territory |
|
Both Sexes |
|
|
population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power) |
1,076,000 |
547,000 |
1,623,000 |
|
Full employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
392,000 |
172,000 |
564,000 |
|
Working less than usual (lack of employment) |
11,000 |
1,000 |
12,000 |
|
Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income |
26,000 |
2,000 |
28,000 |
|
Did not work and seeking job |
45,000 |
34,000 |
79,000 |
|
Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement |
62,000 |
25,000 |
87,000 |
|
Did not work – old or ill |
62,000 |
33,000 |
95,000 |
|
Did not work – Housewife |
334,000 |
186,000 |
520,000 |
|
Did not work – Students |
144,000 |
94,000 |
238,000 |
|
Population less than 15 years |
876,000 |
553,000 |
1,429,000 |
|
Total Population |
1,952,000 |
1,100,000 |
3,052,000 |
|
Male |
|
|
Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power) |
540,000 |
275,000 |
815,000 |
|
Full employment (working full time: 35 hours and above) |
326,000 |
154,000 |
480,000 |
|
Working less than usual (lack of employment) |
10,000 |
1,000 |
11,000 |
|
Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income |
24,000 |
2,000 |
26,000 |
|
Did not work and seeking job |
36,000 |
29,000 |
65,000 |
|
Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement |
44,000 |
21,000 |
65,000 |
|
Did not work – old or ill |
32,000 |
16,000 |
48,000 |
|
Did not work – Housewife |
3,000 |
2,000 |
5,000 |
|
Did not work – Students |
65,000 |
50,000 |
115,000 |
|
Population less than 15 years |
447,000 |
279,000 |
726,000 |
|
Total Population |
987,000 |
554,000 |
1,541,000 |
|
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