عربي
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
On the Eve occasion of May 1st - International Workers Day
Ms. Ola Awad, President of PCBS, presents the current status of Palestinian labour force during, on the occasion of the International Workers’ Day
About 361 thousand unemployed persons in Palestine during 2016
Unemployment in Palestine increased during the last decade from 21.7% in 2007 to 26.9% in 2016. The rate in the West Bank increased from 17.9% in 2007 to 18.2% in 2016, also it increased in Gaza Strip from 29.7% in 2007 to 41.7% in 2016; the gap in the unemployment rate increased for females and males also; the gap increased between them in recent years, where the rate of men fell from 22.3% in 2007 to 22.2% in 2016, while the unemployment rate increased for females from 19.1% in 2007 to 44.7% in 2016.
The number of unemployed persons in Palestine reached 361 thousands in 2016; 154 thousands in the West Bank and 207 thousands in Gaza Strip.
Participation of men in labour force is about four times higher than the participation of women
The results showed that labour force participation rate in Palestine for individuals aged 15 years and above increased during the last decade from 41.7% in 2007 to 45.8% in 2016. The results indicated that the rate of males’ participation in labour force increased to reach 71.6% in 2016 compared with 67.1% in 2007. Also the females’ participation rate increased to 19.3% in 2016 compared with 15.7% in 2007.
680 thousands of the employed are wage employees
The number of wage employees in Palestine amounted to 680 thousands, of whom 344 thousands employed in the West Bank and 227 thousands employed in Gaza Strip; while 89 thousands employed in Israel and 20 thousands employed in Israeli settlements. While the number of wage employees in the private sector in Palestine amounted to 360 thousands, of whom 238 thousands in the West Bank, and 122 thousands in Gaza Strip.
The Private Sector is the dominant employer in Palestine
The percentage of wage employees in the private sector increased from 47.7% in 2007 to 53% in 2016. The percentage of wage employees in Israel and the Israeli settlements increased from 14.0% to about 15.9% during the same period, while in the public sector decreased from 38.3% in 2007 to 31.1% in 2016.
Regarding wage employees in the West Bank, more than half of the employees 53% work in the private sector compared with 23% in the public sector and 24% work in Israel and Israeli settlements. The private sector was the largest employer in Gaza Strip with 54% compared with 46% in the public sector.
One fourth of wage employees in the private sector work in technical and specialized occupations
About 25% of wage employees work as professionals or technicians in Palestine; 15% for males and 70% for females. In addition, 18% of wage employees in Palestine work in crafts and related businesses (21% for males and 2% for females).
Low average real wages in the private sector
The average daily real wage (base year: 2010) in the private sector in Palestine decreased from about 81 NIS in 2007 to about 70 NIS in 2016. The real wage in the Gaza Strip decreased sharply from about 64 NIS in 2007 to about 46 NIS in 2016, and in the West Bank decreased from about 86 NIS to about 82 NIS during the same period (wage employee in Israel and settlements are excluded).
Services sector in the private sector recorded the highest average daily real wage at 97 NIS in the West Bank and 75 NIS in Gaza Strip, followed by construction sector with 92 NIS in the West Bank and 45 NIS in Gaza Strip. The agriculture sector recorded the lowest average daily wage at 62 NIS in the West Bank and 25 NIS in Gaza Strip.
About 35% of wage employees in the private sector received less than the minimum wage
(1,450 NIS) in Palestine.
In the West Bank, about 18% of wage employees in the private sector received less than minimum monthly wage about 41,600 wage employees with an average of monthly wage by 1,063 NIS.
In Gaza Strip, the percentage of wage employees in the private sector who received less than minimum monthly wage was 69% of 84,900 wage employees with an average of monthly wage 744 NIS.
The average actual weekly work hours for wage employees in Palestine reached 42 hours; 41 hours for wage employees in the public sector, 43 hours for wage employees in the private sector.
About one fifth of wage employees received retirement benefits
About 22% of wage employees received retirement or end of service benefits, while 23% received paid annual leave, 23% received paid annual sick leave and 38% of wage female employees received paid maternity leave.
More than one fourth of wage employees in the private sector have work contracts
26% of wage employees in the private sector have work contracts in Palestine; 27% in the West Bank and 25% in Gaza Strip.
About one fifth of wage employees in the private sector are affiliated to labour or professional unions
18% of wage employees in Palestine were affiliated to labour or professional unions; 11% in the West Bank and 30% in Gaza Strip.