Press Report on Labour Force Survey Results

(October – December, 2000) Round

316,000 Unemployed persons during the 4th quarter 2000

This report is based on the Labour Force quarterly Survey. Data was collected for the 19th survey from 4/11/2000 to 11/1/2001, representing the fourth quarter of 2000.

We would like to indicate here that the field work was postponed for four weeks because of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. It was planned to carryout the field work during the period 07/10/2000 - 04/01/2001, and this is the real period about which we collected the data (Reference Period).

We Compared the results of the 4th quarter of year 2000 with the result of the 3rd quarter of the same year.

The survey sample of this round is based on the 1997 census, 7559 households were chosen to represent the Palestinian society and the results are the following:

Economically Active:

  • According to the ILO standards, the number of participants in labour force decreased by 13.2%; (102,000 persons) between the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter, 2000. Where it decreased in the 4th quarter from 770,000 to 668,000.   
  • Number of persons who don't work and don't seek job due to discouragement increased by 36.6%; (34,000 persons). They were 93,000 in the 3rd quarter and 127,000 in the 4th quarter.

    Unemployed Persons:

  • Number of persons who don't work nevertheless seeking or not seeking for job, increased from 170,000 in the 3rd quarter to 316,000 in the 4th quarter. This increase represents 39.7% of the total labour force, according to the relaxed definition of unemployment.
  • While those who don't work, but seeking for job, were in the 4th quarter reached 189,000 (include those persons never work and not seeking for work but waiting to return to their works in Israel and settlements ”16,000”) which represent 28.3% of the total labour force according to the ILO standards.

Employed Persons:

  • With regard to distribution of employees by industry, there was an indication to an increase in the percentage of those working in agriculture i.e. it reached 16.9% in the 4th quarter of 2000, compared with 12.7% in the 3rd quarter of the same year. However it increased in the West Bank from 11.3% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 17.1% in the 4th quarter of 2000. On the other hand those working in services and other branches i.e. it reached 35.2% in the 4th quarter of 2000, compared with 28.6% in the 3rd quarter of the same year. The results show an increase in the percentage of those working in services and other branches in Gaza Strip, i.e. the percentage increased from 38.0% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 53.7% in the 4th quarter of 2000, also it increased in the West Bank from 24.6% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 29.0% in the 4th quarter of 2000.
  • The results showed sharp decrease in the percentage of those working in construction in Gaza Strip compared to the 3rd quarter of 2000, i.e. it decreased from 15.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 3.5% in the 4th quarter 2000. Whereas it decreased from 24.2% to 13.3% in the West Bank.
  • The results showed a decrease in the percentage of workers from the Palestinian Territory who are working in Israel and settlements, i.e. it reached 9.1% in the 4th of 2000 compared to 22.1% in the 3rd quarter of the same year. On the other hand, the percentage in Gaza Strip decreased sharply, i.e. from 15.4% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 2.7% in the 4th quarter of 2000. The percentage in the West Bank decreased from 24.8% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 11.3% in the 4th quarter of 2000.
  • There are (43,653) employees working in Israel and Israeli Settlements, of which 15,735 employees hold Palestinian ID (13,669 from the West Bank and 2,066 from Gaza Strip).
  • The results show a decrease in the percentage of wage employees in the West Bank (i.e. from 66.2% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 57.0% in the 4th quarter 2000), while in Gaza Strip it decreased from 71.0% to 65.9% in the same period.
  • The percentage of those working as unpaid family members in the Palestinian Territory increased from 9.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 13.0% in the 4th quarter 2000. There was a significant increase in West Bank, i.e. from 9.3% to 13.6%, while in Gaza Strip does not change (11.4%).

 

Wages:
  • The Value of the nominal daily net wage of the employees in Gaza Strip increased from 50.4 NIS in the 3rd quarter of 2000 to 56.8 NIS in the 4th quarter 2000. The Average daily net wage for those working in Israel and settlements increased form 110.8 NIS to 111.7 NIS in the 3rd quarter of 2000 and 4th quarter of 2000 respectively. The reason for the increase in the wages is due to decrease the number of employees who was take low wage (The majority of employees of low wages lost their jobs).

    • Dependency Ratio and Poverty:

  • The economic dependency ratio increased in the Palestinian Territory from 4.8 to 6.7 (the change rate is 39.6%). Whereas, It increased in the West Bank from 4.3 to 5.7 (the change rate is 32.6%) and in Gaza Strip increased from 5.9 to 9.4 (the change rate is 59.3%).
  • The percentage of employees whom monthly wages below poverty line equivalent to the year 2000 (1622 NIS, for household composed of two parents and 4 members) increased from 45.5% to 51.7% (the change rate is 18.9%). Whereas, it increased in the West Bank from 37.7% to 43.0% (the change rate is 14.1%), and in Gaza Strip from 64.5% to 72.6% (the change rate is 18.8%).

Main Findings

According to the Relaxed Definition of Unemployment

(October- December, 2000) Round

 

The distribution of persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by labour force components and region is as follows:

Region

Labour Force

Outside Labour Force

Total

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

West Bank

545,000

48.4

581,000

51.6

1,126,000

100

Gaza Strip

250,000

43.3

328,000

56.7

578,000

100

Palestinian Territory

795,000

46.7

909,000

53.3

1,704,000

100

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

Number

(%)

Number

(%)

Number

(%)

Number

(%)

West Bank

329,000

60.4

27,000

4.9

189,000

34.7

545,000

100

Gaza Strip

118,000

47.2

5,000

2.0

127,000

50.8

250,000

100

Palestinian Territory

447,000

56.2

32,000

4.1

316,000

39.7

795,000

100

 

Main Findings: According to the ILO Standards

(October- December, 2000) Round

3-1 Population aged 15 years and above

  • The percentage of the population aged 15 years and over is 53.2% at the 4th Quarter of 2000.

3.2 Labour Force

  • The labour force participation rate reached 39.2% in the Palestinian Territory, 42.9% in the West Bank and 32.0% 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

68.1

5.6

26.3

100

Gaza Strip

63.7

2.8

33.5

100

Palestinian Territory

66.9

4.8

28.3

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

1.6

98.4

100

Gaza Strip

0.8

99.2

100

Palestinian Territory

1.3

98.7

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

4.8

4.0

4.6

Self Employed

24.6

18.7

23.1

Wage Employee

57.0

65.9

59.3

Unpaid Family Member

13.6

11.4

13.0

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

17.1

16.1

16.9

Mining, quarrying and manufacturing

14.6

7.5

12.8

Construction

13.3

3.5

10.8

Commerce, restaurants and hotels

20.8

15.2

19.4

Transportation, storage and communication

5.2

4.0

4.9

Services and other branches

29.0

53.7

35.2

Total

100

100

100

Work days and wages

The average weekly work hours, average monthly work days 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

40.6

40.6

41.2

Average monthly work days*

23.2

24.8

20.3

Median daily net wage in NIS

61.5

53.8

115.4

Average daily net wage in NIS

69.6

56.8

111.7

* : Paid working days

3-4 Unemployment

  • The unemployment rate for people aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory reached 28.3% on average specifically 26.3% in the West Bank and 33.5% in Gaza Strip.

    • Unemployment Rate for Persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Age and Sex (%):

    Age

    Male

    Female

    Total

    15-19

    46.2

    17.6

    44.8

    20-24

    37.9

    29.9

    36.8

    25-29

    33.4

    18.0

    30.9

    30-34

    28.6

    13.5

    26.2

    35-39

    31.2

    8.1

    27.4

    40-44

    25.0

    4.7

    21.8

    45-49

    25.0

    2.2

    21.5

    50+

    14.6

    1.4

    11.9

    Overall Average

    31.0

    12.9

    28.3

     

    Unemployment Rate for Persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Age and Region (%):

    Age

    West Bank

    Gaza Strip

    Total

    15-19

    40.9

    55.4

    44.8

    20-24

    34.5

    42.2

    36.8

    25-29

    29.7

    34.1

    30.9

    30-34

    23.5

    33.4

    26.2

    35-39

    23.5

    37.9

    27.4

    40-44

    22.2

    20.7

    21.8

    45-49

    22.1

    20.1

    21.5

    50+

    11.5

    13.2

    11.9

    Overall Average

    26.3

    33.5

    28.3

    Unemployment Rate for Persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Years of Schooling and Sex (%):

    Years of Schooling

    Male

    Female

    Total

    0

    27.4

    -

    12.7

    1-6

    37.2

    3.1

    33.6

    7-9

    35.3

    8.7

    33.1

    10-12

    33.9

    10.7

    31.7

    13+

    14.7

    21.8

    16.7

    Overall Average

    31.0

    12.9

    28.3

    Note: (-) means there are not enough observations on this section.

    Unemployment Rate for Persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory by Years of Schooling and Region (%):

    Years of schooling

    West Bank

    Gaza Strip

    Total

    0

    11.5

    15.9

    12.7

    1-6

    29.2

    44.5

    33.6

    7-9

    31.1

    40.3

    33.1

    10-12

    31.0

    33.5

    31.7

    13+

    13.6

    23.2

    16.7

    Overall Average

    26.3

    33.5

    28.3

    3-5 Persons outside the labour force

  • The percentage of persons aged 15 years and over outside the labour force in the Palestinian Territory reached 60.8%, 57.1% in the West Bank and 68.0% 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

9.4

9.1

9.3

Housewife

55.2

47.0

52.1

Studying or training

25.8

27.2

26.3

Others

9.6

16.7

12.3

Total

100

100

100

3-6 Labour Force Status: Further details

Population in the working age (15 years and over) are distributed according to the ILO standard classification of labour force framework by sex, region and labour force status as follows:

Region and Sex

Employed (%)

Under-employed
   (%)

Unemployed (%)

Total (%)

Labour Force (%)

Outside Labour Force (%)

West Bank

Male

64.4

6.2

29.4

100

71.9

28.1

Female

87.6

2.9

9.5

100

13.7

86.3

Total

68.1

5.6

26.3

100

42.9

57.1

Gaza Strip

Male

61.9

3.0

35.1

100

55.2

44.8

Female

74.7

2.1

23.2

100

8.8

91.2

Total

63.7

2.8

33.5

100

32.0

68.0

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 Over by region and Labor Force Status

(October-December, 2000): (%)

 

Labour Force Status

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Palestinian Territory

Both Sexes

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

55.1

49.9

53.2

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

29.2

20.4

26.2

Working less than usual (lack of employment)

0.5

0.2

0.4

Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income

1.9

0.7

1.5

Did not work and seeking job

9.9

10.7

10.2

Those persons never work and not seeking for
work but waiting to return to
their works in Israel and settlements

1.4

-

0.9

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

5.5

11.3

7.5

Did not work – old or ill

5.4

6.2

5.6

Did not work – Home duties

31.5

32.0

31.7

Did not work – Students

14.7

18.5

16.0

Population less than 15 years

44.9

50.1

46.8

Total Population

100

100

100

Male

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

54.8

49.6

52.9

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

46.3

34.2

42.2

Working less than usual (lack of employment)

0.9

0.4

0.7

Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income

3.5

1.3

2.7

Did not work and seeking job

18.4

19.4

18.7

Those persons never work and not seeking for work but waiting to return to their works in Israel and settlements

2.8

-

1.9

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

8.4

20.8

12.6

Did not work – old or ill

5.7

6.2

5.9

Did not work – Home duties

0.4

0.2

0.3

Did not work – Students

13.6

17.5

14.9

Population less than 15 years

45.2

50.5

47.1

Total Population

100

100

100

Note:

  1. Persons never work and not seeking for work but waiting to return to their works in Israel and Settlements were considered as unemployed, because the waiting period before they can return to their works in Israel and Settlements was unknown.

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

  3. (-) Means there are not enough observations on this group.

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

Population 15 Years and Over by region and Labour Force Status

(October-December, 2000): Absolute Numbers

 

Labour Force Status

West Bank

Gaza Strip

Palestinian Territory

Both Sexes

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

1,126,000

578,000

1,704,000

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

329,000

118,000

447,000

Working less than usual (lack of employment)

6,000

1,000

7,000

Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income

21,000

4,000

25,000

Did not work and seeking job

111,000

62,000

173,000

Those persons never work and not seeking for work
but waiting to return to their works in Israel and settlements

16,000

-

16,000

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

62,000

65,000

127,000

Did not work – old or ill

61,000

36,000

97,000

Did not work – Home duties

355,000

185,000

540,000

Did not work – Students

165,000

107,000

272,000

Population less than 15 years

916,000

580,000

1,496,000

Total Population

2,042,000

1,158,000

3,200,000

Male

Population aged 15 years and over ( Man Power)

565,000

290,000

855,000

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

262,000

99,000

361,000

Working less than usual (lack of employment)

5,000

1,000

6,000

Working in poor conditions or for insufficient income

20,000

4,000

24,000

Did not work and seeking job

104,000

56,000

160,000

Those persons never work and not seeking for work but
waiting to return to their works in Israel and settlements

16,000

-

16,000

Did not work and did not seek job due to discouragement

47,000

60,000

107,000

Did not work – old or ill

32,000

18,000

50,000

Did not work – Home duties

2,000

1,000

3,000

Did not work – Students

77,000

51,000

128,000

Population less than 15 years

467,000

294,000

761,000

Total Population

1,032,000

584,000

1,616,000

Note:

  1. Those persons never work and not seeking for work but waiting to return to their works in Israel and Settlements were considered as unemployed, because the waiting period before they can return to their works in Israel and Settlements was unknown.

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

  3. (-) means there are not enough observations on this group.