Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

About One Fourth of the Participants in the Labour Force in Palestine are Unemployed in the Fourth Quarter of 2022

The number of employed persons increased by 8 thousands in the 4^th quarter of 2022

The number of employed persons (excluding workers abroad) increased from about 1.151 million in the 3^rd quarter of 2022 to about 1.159 million in the 4^th quarter of 2022, by 0.7%. This increase came because of the increase in the number of employed persons in Gaza Strip by 3% in the 4^th quarter 2022, while the number of employed persons in the West Bank decreased by 0.1% in the same period.

Moreover, there is a decrease in the number of employed persons in Israel during the 3^rd quarter and 4^th quarter of 2022 by about 41 thousands. The number of employed persons in Israel reached about 130 thousand employed persons in the 4^th quarter of 2022 compared to about 171 thousand employed persons in the 3^rd  quarter of 2022, while the number of employed persons in Israeli settlements increased from  27.4thousands in the 3^rd quarter 2022 to 28.7 thousands in the 4^th quarter 2022.

The number of employed persons in Israel and Israeli settlements increased in agriculture activities by about 2 thousand employed persons, while the number decreased in other activities, as it decreased in activities of constructions by about 20 thousands, it decreased by about 11 thousand employed persons in commerce and hotels and restaurant activities, it decreased by about 5 thousand employed persons in the manufacturing and mining activities, it decreased by about 4 thousands employed persons in services and other activities¹, and it decreased by about 2 thousand employed persons in transportation and communication.

The average daily wage for the wage employees in Israel and Israeli settlements remains at the same average of about 284 NIS during the 3^rd quarter and the 4^th quarter of 2022.

An increase in the number of employed persons in the local market during the 3^rd quarter and the 4^th quarter of 2022

The number of employed persons in the local market increased from 953 thousand employed persons in the 3^rd quarter of 2022 to about 1.001 million employed persons in the 4^th quarter of 2022. It increased by 5.9% in the West Bank and by 3.2% in Gaza Strip during the same period.

Results showed that the increased in the number of employed persons in the local market during the 4^th quarter of 2022 due to the increase in the number of employed persons in the construction activity then commerce, hotels and restaurant activities followed by the agriculture activity, then transportation and storage, while the number decreased in other services[1].

The average weekly working hours for wage employees in the West Bank was 44.1 hours per week compared to 36.7 hours in Gaza Strip. The average monthly working days was 23.2 working days in the West Bank compared to 21.6 working days in Gaza Strip.

8 out of 10 employed persons are wage employees

77% of employed persons are wage employees, 14% of employed persons are self-employed, 5% of employed persons are employers, and 4% are unpaid family members.

About two thirds of the wage employees in the private sector were hired without any employment contract.

62% of wage employees in the private sector were hired without any employment contract, and 28% of wage employees receive             a contribution to a pension fund/end of service compensation. Moreover, 40% of wage female employees receive a paid maternity leave.

38% of wage employees in the private sector receive monthly wage less than the minimum wage (1,880 NIS) in Palestine

The percentage of wage employees in the private sector who receive a monthly wage less than the minimum wage in the West Bank was 16% in the 4^th quarter of 2022 (about 57 thousand employees). The number of wage employees in the private sector who receive a monthly wage less than the minimum wage in Gaza Strip was about 130 thousands of about 89% of wage employees in the private during the same period.

It is worth mentioning that the Council of Ministers issued a decree stating the minimum wage to be (1,880 NIS) as of the beginning of 2022.

The monthly minimum wage in Gaza Strip was (699 NIS) compared with (1,433 NIS) in the West Bank.

One fourth of the labour force participants was unemployed in the 4^th    quarter of 2022

The unemployment rate among labour force participants (15 years and above) in the 4^th   quarter of 2022 was about 23%, while the total underutilization of labour was about 29%, according to the revised International Labour Organization Standards (ICLS-19th).

There is still a large disparity in the unemployment rate between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as this rate reached 44% in Gaza Strip compared to 12% in the West Bank. The unemployment rate by sex reached 19% among males compared to 40% among females.

Unemployment Rate (ICLS 19^th) by Region, Q2- 2020 – Q4-2022

The number of unemployed persons reached about 355 thousands in the 4^th quarter of 2022; of which 236 thousand persons in Gaza Strip and 119 thousand persons in the West Bank.

The participation rate in the labour force slightly decreased to 45% in the 4^th quarter of 2022 compared with 46% in the 3^rd quarter of 2022; it decreased from 42% to 41% in Gaza Strip, and it decreased from 48% to 47% in the West Bank at the same period.

The participation rate in the labour force among males was 71% in the 4^th quarter of 2022 compared to 72% in the 3^rd quarter of 2022, whereas the participation rate among females was 18% in the 4^th quarter of 2022 compared to 19% in the 3^rd quarter of 2022.

Within the same context, the total underutilisation reached 458 thousand persons, as this number includes 41 thousand discouraged job seekers and 20 thousands in time-related underemployment.

Unemployment rate was the highest among youth graduates

About 53% is the unemployment rate of youth graduates (19-29 years) who hold Associate Diploma Certificate and higher (26% in the West Bank compared to 74% in Gaza Strip).