Press Release on Labour Force Survey Results
(January– March, 2003) Round
336,000 Unemployed persons during the 1st quarter 2003

 

This report is based on the Labour Force quarterly Survey. Data was collected for the 28th round from 05/01/2003 to 03/04/2003, representing the first quarter of 2003.

The survey sample of this round is based on the 1997 census, 7,559 households were selected to represent the Palestinian society of which 6,486 questionnaires were completed.

Economically Active:

According to the ILO standards, the number of participants in labour force increased by 3 thousand persons between the 4th quarter 2002 and the 1st quarter 2003. Where it increased from 742 thousand in the 4th quarter 2002 to 745 thousand in the 1st quarter 2003, compared with 735 thousand in the 3rd quarter 2000.

Number of persons who do not work and do not seek job for being discouraged decreased by 2.7% between the 4th quarter 2002 and the 1st quarter 2003; (3 thousand persons). They were 112 thousand in the 4th quarter 2002, decreased to 109 thousand in the 1st quarter 2003, compared with 93 thousand in the 3rd quarter 2000. The discourage workers in the West Bank increased from 66 thousand person in the 4th quarter 2002 to 75 thousand persons in the 1st quarter 2003 (the change rate is 13.6%), while it decreased in Gaza Strip from 46 thousand in the 4th quarter 2002 to 34 thousand persons in the 1st quarter 2003 (the change rate is 26.1%)

Unemployed Persons:

Number of persons who don't work nevertheless seeking or not seeking job, increased from 314 thousand in the 4th quarter 2002 to 336 thousand in the 1st quarter 2003, compared with 170 thousand in the 3rd quarter 2000. This represents 39.3% of the total labour force, according to the relaxed definition of unemployment.

While those who don't work, but seeking job, in the 1st quarter 2003 reached 227 thousand which represent 30.3% of the total labour force according to the ILO standards, compared with 27.3% in the 4th quarter 2002 and 10.0% in the 3rd quarter 2000 (before the beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada). The results showed that unemployment rate in the West Bank reached 31.3% in the 1st quarter 2003 compared with 27.0% in the 4th quarter 2002 and 31.0% in the 3rd quarter 2002.

Employed Persons:

The percentage of those working in services and other branches increased from 33.1% in the 4th quarter 2002 to 34.9% in the 1st quarter 2003, while it was 28.6% in the 3rd quarter 2000). The results showed an increase in the percentage of those working in services and other branches in West Bank, (24.6% in the 3rd quarter 2000 to 32.7% in the 1st quarter 2003). The results showed an increase in the percentage of those working in Agriculture in Gaza Strip, (15.3% in the 4th quarter 2002 to 19.4% in the 1st quarter 2003), while it decreased in the West Bank from 18.6% in the 4th quarter 2002 to 12.4% in the 1st quarter 2003.

Employment in construction dropped sharply in Gaza Strip from 15.9% in the 3rd quarter 2000 to 10.1% in the 1st quarter 2003, while it reached 10.9% in the 4th quarter 2002.

Whereas it decreased in the West Bank from 24.2% in the 3rd quarter 2000 to 12.4% in the 1st quarter 2003, while the percentage was 13.5% in the 4th quarter 2002.

The results showed an increase in the percentage of wage employees in the West Bank (54.8% in the 4th quarter 2002 to 57.6% in the 1st quarter 2003 compared with 66.2% in the 3rd quarter 2000), and the percentage of unpaid family members also decreased from 13.0% in the 4th quarter 2002 to 8.4% in the 1st quarter 2003. Also, in Gaza Strip, it decreased from 65.5% in 4th quarter 2002 to reach 58.7% in the 1st quarter 2003 compared with 71.0% in the 3rd quarter 2000. While the percentage of unpaid family member increased from 7.3% in the 4th quarter 2002 to 13.2% in the 1st quarter 2003.

 

Working Hours:

Before the beginning of Alaqsa intifada and during the school time working hours for all employed persons was 9.1 million working hours per month (2nd quarter 2000), working hours increased in the Summer holiday (3rd quarter 2000) to reach 9.3 million. While it decreased to 6.2 million in the 4th quarter 2000 (1st quarter of Al-Aqsa intifada), then increased slightly in the 1st quarter 2002 to reached 6.6 million per month, then increased to 6.8 million working hours in the 1st quarter 2003, while it reached 7.2 million working hours in the 4th quarter 2002; where it decreased by 5.6% compared with 4th quarter 2002.

Wages:

 

The average value of the nominal daily net wage of the employees in Gaza Strip decreased from 54.7 NIS in the 4th quarter 2002 to 53.7 NIS in the 1st quarter 2003, compared with 50.4 NIS in the 3rd quarter 2000. The Average daily net wage for those working in Israel and settlements increased from 120 NIS in the 4th quarter 2002 to 122.2 NIS in the 1st quarter 2003. But the average increased compared with 3rd quarter 2000 (110.8 NIS).

Dependency Ratio and Poverty:

The economic dependency ratio increased in the Palestinian Territory from 4.8 in the 3rd quarter 2000 to 6.9 in the 1st quarter 2003 (the change rate is 43.8%). Whereas, it increased in the West Bank from 4.3 to 6.6 (the change rate is 53.5%) and in Gaza Strip increased from 6.0 to 7.5 (the change rate is 25.0%). The ratio in the West Bank reach 5.9 compared with 8.2 in Gaza Strip in the 4th quarter 2002.

The percentage of employees whose monthly wages below poverty line4 increased from 43.5% in the 3rd quarter 2000 to 58.7% in the 1st quarter 2003 (the change rate is 34.9%).

 

Main Findings
According to the Relaxed Definition of Unemployment
(January - March, 2003) Round

Click here to Download

The Distribution of Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Labour Force Components and Region (Relaxed Definition) is as follows:

Region

Labour

Force

Outside

Labour Force

Total

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

West Bank

575,000

45.6

685,000

54.4

1,260,000

100

Gaza Strip

279,000

42.3

381,000

57.7

660,000

100

Palestinian Territory

854,000

44.5

1,066,000

55.5

1,920,000

100

 

The Distribution of Labour Force Participants Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Labour Force Components and Region (Relaxed Definition) is as follows:

Region

Employment

Unemployment

Total

Number

(%)

Number

(%)

Number

(%)

West Bank

343,000

59.7

232,000

40.3

575,000

100

Gaza Strip

175,000

62.7

104,000

37.3

279,000

100

Palestinian Territory

518,000

60.7

336,000

39.3

854,000

100

 

Main Findings: According to the ILO Standards

(January - March, 2003) Round

 

3-1 Population aged 15 years and over

     The percentage of the population aged 15 years and over is 53.8% at the 1st Quarter of 2003.

    The Distribution of Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Labour Force Components and Region (ILO Standards) is as follows:

    Region

    Labour

    Force

    Outside

    Labour Force

    Total

    Number

    Percent

    Number

    Percent

    Number

    Percent

    West Bank

    500,000

    39.7

    760,000

    60.3

    1,260,000

    100

    Gaza Strip

    245,000

    37.2

    415,000

    62.8

    660,000

    100

    Palestinian Territory

    745,000

    38.8

    1,175,000

    61.2

    1,920,000

    100

3-2 Labour Force (According to the ILO Standards):

      The labour force participation rate reached 38.8% in the Palestinian Territory, 39.7% in   the           West Bank and 37.2% in Gaza Strip.

The Distribution of Labour Force Participants Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Labour Force Components and Region (ILO Standards) is as follows (%):

Region

Full Employment

Under Employment

Unemployment

Total

West Bank

63.8

4.9

31.3

100

Gaza Strip

68.7

2.8

28.5

100

Palestinian Territory

65.4

4.3

30.3

100

 

3-3 Employment (According to the ILO Standards):

Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory are Distributed by Employment Status (ILO Standards) as follows (%):

Employment Status

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Palestinian Territory

Employer

3.8

2.0

3.2

Self Employed

30.2

26.1

28.8

Wage Employee

57.6

58.7

58.0

Unpaid Family Member

8.4

13.2

10.0

Total

100

100

100

 

Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory are Distributed by  Economic Activity and Place of work (ILO Standards) as Follows (%):

Economic Activity

West 

Bank

Gaza 

Strip

Israel and 

Settlements

Total

Agriculture, fishing and forestry

13.2

19.6

7.5

14.7

Mining, quarrying and manufacturing

14.3

9.3

15.5

12.8

Construction

7.4

8.6

47.2

11.6

Commerce, restaurants and hotels

21.9

18.4

17.7

20.4

Transportation, storage and communication

7.2

3.9

2.6

5.6

Services and other branches

36.0

40.2

9.5

34.9

Total

100

100

100

100

 

Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory are Distributed by Place of Work and Region (ILO Standards) as follows (%):

Place of Work

 West Bank Gaza Strip Total

Number

(1000)

(%)

Number

(1000)

(%)

Number

(1000)

 (%)

Palestinian Territory

300

87.4

169

96.4

469

90.5

Israel and Settlements (Persons who have Palestinian Identity)

21

6.2 

6

3.6

27

5.3

Israel and Settlements (Persons who have Israeli Identity or foreign passport)

22

6.4

-

-

22

4.2

Total

343

100 

175

100

518

100

Note: (-) means there are no enough observations in this section.

 

Work days, hours and wages

The average weekly work hours average monthly workdays and average daily wage per employee aged 15 years and over according to Place of Work are as follows:

Indicator

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Israel and Settlements

Average weekly work hours

40.5

40.0

41.7

Average monthly work days*

22.8

21.9

20.3

Median daily net wage in NIS

60.0

50.0

130.0

Average daily net wage in NIS

72.4

53.7

122.2

                         *: Including paid days that have been not worked

 

3-4 Unemployment (According to the ILO Standards):

Unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory    reached  30.3%; 31.3% in the West Bank and 28.5% in Gaza Strip.

Unemployment Rate for Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Age and Sex (ILO Standards) (%):

Age

Males

Females

Total

15-19

49.2

6.0

48.4

20-24

41.9

48.1

42.9

25-29

33.3

22.4

31.7

30-34

28.8

13.0

26.6

35-39

28.2

10.1

25.8

40-44

27.7

9.7

24.9

45-49

29.0

6.7

25.7

50+

20.5

2.7

18.0

Overall Average

32.1

19.4

30.3

 

Unemployment Rate for Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Age and Region (ILO Standards) (%):

Age

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Total

15-19

48.3

48.6

48.4

20-24

43.2

42.2

42.9

25-29

34.1

27.0

31.7

30-34

26.2

27.4

26.6

35-39

26.6

24.2

25.8

40-44

24.7

25.4

24.9

45-49

28.2

20.7

25.7

50+

18.9

16.5

18.0

Overall Average

31.3

28.5

30.3

 

Unemployment Rate for Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Years of Schooling and Sex (ILO Standards) (%):

Years of Schooling

Males

Females

Total

0

25.5

-

14.8

1-6

37.6

5.5

34.8

7-9

37.3

9.7

35.4

10-12

33.5

20.2

32.5

13+

18.5

27.1

21.0

Overall Average

32.1

19.4

30.3

 

Unemployment Rate for Persons Aged 15 Years and Over in the Palestinian Territory by Years of Schooling and Region (ILO Standards) (%):

Years of schooling

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Total

0

17.4

10.1

14.8

1-6

36.0

32.9

34.8

7-9

37.3

30.7

35.4

10-12

34.9

27.5

32.5

13+

18.6

26.0

21.0

Overall Average

31.3

28.5

30.3

 

3-5 Persons outside the labour force (ILO Standards):

The percentage of persons aged 15 years and over outside the labour force in the Palestinian Territory reached 61.2%; 60.3% in the West Bank and 62.8% in Gaza Strip.

Persons Aged 15 Years and Over Outside the Labour Force in the Palestinian Territory are Distributed by Reason and Region (ILO Standards) as follows (%):

Reason

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Palestinian Territory

Old/illness

9.1

6.8

8.3

Housekeeping

52.0

50.9

51.6

Studying or training

29.1

34.1

30.8

Others

9.8

8.2

9.3

Total

100

100

100

 

3-6 Labour Force Status: Further details (ILO Standards):

Persons aged (15 years and over) are distributed according to ILO standards of labour force by sex, region and labour force status as follows:

Region and

Sex

Full Employment

(%)

Under Employment

(%)

Unemployed

(%)

Total

(%)

Labour Force

(%)

Outside Labour Force

(%)

West Bank

Males

60.8

5.5

33.7

100

67.0

33.0

Females

80.9

1.9

17.2

100

11.9

88.1

Total

63.8

4.9

31.3

100

39.7

60.3

Gaza Strip

Males

68.2

2.9

28.9

100

65.3

34.7

Females

72.6

2.1

25.3

100

8.8

91.2

Total

68.7

2.8

28.5

100

37.2

62.8

 

3-7 Children 10-14 years (According to the ILO Standards):

The Distribution of Children 10-14 Years in the Palestinian Territory by Labour Force Components and Region (ILO Standards) is as follows (%):

Region

Labour

Force

Outside

Labour Force

Total

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

West Bank

906

0.3

282,454

99.7

283,360

100

Gaza Strip

964

0.5

179,084

99.5

180,048

100

Palestinian Territory

1,870

0.4

461,538

99.6

463,408

100

 

population 15 Years and Over by Region and Labor Force Status

January- March, 2003 (ILO Standards):

Labour Force Status

West Bank

(%)

Gaza Strip

(%)

Palestinian Territory

(%)

Both Sexes

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

55.6

50.6

53.8

Full Employment (working full time:35 hours and above)

25.3

25.5

25.4

Working less than usual (Lack of employment)

1.0

0.6

0.9

Working poor conditions or for insufficient income

0.9

0.4

0.8

Did not work and seeking job

12.5

10.6

11.8

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

5.9

5.2

5.7

Did not work – Old or illness

5.5

4.3

5.1

Did not work – Home duties

31.3

32.0

31.6

Did not work – Students

17.6

21.4

18.7

Population less than 15 years

44.4

49.4

46.2

Total Population

100

100

100

Males

Population aged 15years and over ( Man Power)

55.4

50.4

53.5

Full Employment (working full time:35 hours and above)

40.8

44.5

42.0

Working lethan usual (Lack of employment)

1.9

1.1

1.6

Working poor conditions or for insufficient income

1.8

0.8

1.4

Did not work and seeking job

22.6

18.9

21.3

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

9.8

8.9

9.5

Did not work – Old or illness

6.3

3.7

5.4

Did not work – Home duties

0.5

0.3

0.4

Did not work – Students

16.3

21.8

18.4

Population less than 15 years

44.6

49.6

46.5

Total Population

100

100

100

 

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

Population 15 Years and Over by Region and Labour Force Status

January- March, 2003 (ILO Standards):

 

Labour Force Status

West Bank

#

Gaza Strip

#

Palestinian Territory

#

Both Sexes

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

1,260,000

660,000

1,920,000

Full Employment (working full time:35 hours and above)

319,000

168,000

487,000

Working less than usual (Lack of employment)

13,000

4,000

17,000

Working poor conditions or for insufficient income

11,000

3,000

14,000

Did not work and seeking job

157,000

70,000

227,000

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

75,000

34,000

109,000

Did not work – Old or illness

69,000

28,000

97,000

Did not work – Home duties

395,000

211,000

606,000

Did not work – Students

221,000

142,000

363,000

Population less than 15 years

1,007,000

644,000

1,651,000

Total Population

2,267,000

1,304,000

3,571,000

Males

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

635,000

332,000

967,000

Full Employment (working full time:35 hours and above)

259,000

148,000

407,000

Working less than usual (Lack of employment)

12,000

4,000

16,000

Working poor conditions or for insufficient income

11,000

3,000

14,000

Did not work and seeking job

144,000

63,000

207,000

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

62,000

29,000

91,000

             Did not work – Old or illness

40,000

12,000

52,000

Did not work – Home duties

3,000

1,000

4,000

Did not work – Students

104,000

72,000

176,000

Population less than 15 years

512,000

327,000

839,000

Total Population

1,147,000

659,000

1,806,000