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%

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