RAMALLAH, February 21, 2010 (WAFA)- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) reported on Labour Force Survey that unemployment rate registered the highest in Hebron governorate among the West Bank Governorates, while Khan Younis Governorate registered the highest among Gaza Strip governorates.
PCBS said Hebron governorate registered the highest unemployment rate among the West Bank governorates (23.6%) followed by Qalqilia governorate at (23.4%). While Jericho and Al Aghwar, governorate registered the lowest unemployment rate (7.1%). For Gaza Strip, Khan Younis governorate registered the highest unemployment rate (50.4%) followed by Rafah governorate (39.1%), then Gaza city governorate (38.2%).
The results showed that the highest unemployment rate was concentrated among youth aged 15-29; the age group 20-24 registered the highest unemployment rate and reached 40.4%, of which 30.3% in the West Bank and 60.5% in Gaza Strip, followed by age group 15-19 which reached 38.2%, of which 32.3% in the West Bank and 57.5% in Gaza Strip, then 25-29 group, it reached 29.1%, of which 19.6% in the West Bank and 45.3% in Gaza Strip.
The results showed that unemployment rate among females who did not complete any years of schooling was 2.7%. Whereas, this percentage reached 37.5% for females completed 13 years of schooling and over as compared with 17.3% among males. While the highest rate was among males who did not complete any years of schooling at 32.0%.
The results showed an increase in the number of employed persons between the 3rd quarter 2009, and 4th quarter 2009 by 15 thousand employees, the number of employed persons reached 724 thousand in the 4th quarter 2009 as compared with 709 thousand in the 3rd quarter 2009, also the results showed an increase in employed women from 123 thousand to 126 thousand between the 3rd quarter 2009 and 4th quarter 2009.
At economic activity1 level, the results showed that the percentage of those who are working in agriculture sector in the West Bank increased from 12.8% to 15.0% between 3rd quarter 2009 and 4th quarter 2009, also the percentage of those who are working in mining, quarrying and manufacturing increased from 13.6% in the 3rd quarter to 15.1% in the 4th quarter 2009, whereas the percentage of those who are working in construction sector remains at the same level 10.1% in the 4th quarter 2009 as compared with 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. For Gaza Strip, the percentage of those who are working in agriculture sector increased from 4.9% to 7.4% in the 4th quarter 2009, also the percentage of employed persons in commerce, restaurants and hotels sector increased from 18.6% in 3rd quarter 2009 and 19.5% in the 4th quarter 2009. On the other hand, the results showed that the percentage of employed persons at services and other branches sector reached 33.8% in the West Bank and 60.0% in Gaza Strip in the 4th quarter 2009.
In West Bank showed a decrease in the percentage of wage employees, it decreased from 63.1% in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 62.0% in the 4th quarter 2009, also the percentage of unpaid family members decreased from 9.2% to 8.7% in the same period, While the Percentage of self employed increased from 20.2% to 22.0% during g the same period.
For Gaza Strip, the percentage of wage employees decreased from 78.2% to 74.2%, while the percentage of unpaid family members increased from 2.8% to 4.78% and the percentage of self employed increased from 15.4% to 16.3% at the same period.
Employment in Israel and Israeli settlements from the West Bank decreased from 14.3% in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 13.4% in the 4th quarter 2009, whereas in Gaza Strip there was no access for workers to enter Israeli settlements.
The results showed that the public sector employed one fourth (23.6%) of the total employed, of which 16.3% in the West Bank and 44.7% in Gaza Strip.
The average value of the nominal daily net wage of employees worked in the West Bank decreased from 87.5 NIS in 3rd quarter 2009 to 85.6 NIS in the 4th quarter 2009, compared with 87.4 NIS in the 4th quarter 2008, while in Gaza Strip, the nominal daily net wage of employees increased from 62.1 NIS in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 62.3 NIS in the 4th quarter 2009. For nominal daily net wage for those working in Israel and Israeli settlements increased from 147.7 NIS in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 156.4 NIS in the 4th quarter 2009, compared with 138.0 NIS in the 4th quarter 2008.
The average weekly work hours in the West Bank decreased from 43.3 work hours in 3rd quarter 2009 to 42.3 work hours in the 4th quarter 2009, and decreased in Gaza Strip from 41.2 work hours to 38.1 work hours, and decreased for those working in Israel and Israeli settlements from 41.4 work hours to 40.2 work hours at the same period.
This report is based on the labour force quarterly survey. Data was collected during 04/10/2009 to 31/12/2009, representing the 4th quarter of 2009. The data of this round was compared with the data of the 3rd quarter of 2009 and the 4th quarter of 2008. The survey sample of this round is based on the 2007 census sampling frame, 7,694 households were selected to represent the Palestinian society of which 6,849 households completed the questionnaires (4,578 in the West Bank and 2,271 in Gaza Strip).
According to the ILO standards, the labour force participation rate in the Palestinian Territory during the 4th quarter of 2009 remains at the same level (41.5%) compared with (41.6%) in the 3rd quarter of 2009 (compared with 41.4% during the 4th quarter of 2008). The participation rate of women remains at the same level (15.1%) in the 4th quarter 2009 compared with 15.4% in the 3rd quarter 2009.
According to the relaxed definition of unemployment, the percentage of persons who don't work nevertheless seeking or not seeking jobs, decreased from 31.4% in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 30.2% in the 4th quarter 2009, compared with 33.4% in the 4th quarter 2008.
According to the ILO standards, the percentage of persons who don't work, but seeking jobs remains at the same level between the 3rd and 4th quarters 2009; the differences appeared in the data are not statistically significant for the West Bank or even the Palestinian Territory, the results showed that the percentage of the unemployed decreased from 25.8% in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 24.8% in the 4th quarter 2009, as compared with 27.9% in the 4th quarter 2008.and also decreased in Gaza Strip from 42.3% in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 39.3% in the 4th quarter 2009. While the unemployment rate in the West Bank increased from 17.8% in the 3rd quarter 2009 to 18.1% in the 4th quarter 2009.
