RAMALLAH, April 29, 2015 (WAFA) – Participation of men in the labor force in Palestine is about four times higher than the participation of women, Wednesday reported the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

It said the participation rate in the labor force of persons aged 15 years and above in Palestine was 46%, distributed as 72% for males and 19% for females; on the level of the West Bank participation rate was 47%; 73% for males compared to 19% for females. Regarding Gaza Strip, about 44% of persons participated in the labor force; 68% for males and 20% for females.

The unemployment rate among participants in the labor force aged 15 years and above in Palestine was 27%; About 338 thousand persons were unemployed; 24% for males and 38% for females.  The unemployment rate in the West Bank was 18%;about 143 thousand; 15% for males and 27% for females, compared with 44% in Gaza Strip; about 195 thousand; 40% for males and 57% for females.

PCBS said that the number of wage employees in Palestine amounted to 618 thousand, of whom 331 thousand employed in the West Bank and 188 thousand employed in Gaza Strip; while 78 thousand employed in Israel and 21 thousand employed in Israeli settlement.

it said that the Public Sector is the dominant employer in Gaza Strip; Wage employees are distributed in Palestine at about 50% in the private sector compared with 34% work in the public sector; while the percentage of workers in Israel and Israeli settlements reached 16%.

Regarding wage employees in the West Bank, more than half employees estimated at 52% work in the private sector compared with 25% in the public sector, and the remainder 23% work in Israel and Israeli settlements. The public sector was the largest employer in Gaza Strip with 55% compared with 45% in the private sector.

PCBS added that, about one fourth of wage employees in the private sector work in technical and specialized occupations.

It reported that about 26% of wage employees work as professionals or technicians in Palestine; 16% for males and 67% for females. In addition, 18% of wage employees in Palestine work in craft and related trade works; 21% for males and 3% for females.

On the other hand, about 20% of wage employees in the private sector in Palestine received vocational training; 19% in the West Bank and 22% in Gaza Strip.

PCBS stressed the llow average of real wages in the private sector; the average daily real wage (base year= 2010) in the private sector in Palestine was 70 NIS; 75 NIS in the West Bank (workers in Israel and Settlements are excluded) and 51 NIS in Gaza Strip. 

Services sector in the private sector recorded the highest average daily real wage at 88 NIS in the West Bank and 80 NIS in Gaza Strip, followed by construction sector;  with  82 NIS in the West Bank and 52 NIS in Gaza Strip. The agriculture sector recorded the lowest average daily wage at 55 NIS in the West Bank and 24  NIS in Gaza Strip.

About 33% of wage employees in the private sector received less than the minimum wage (1,450 NIS) in Palestine.

In West Bank, about 23% of wage employees in the private sector received less than minimum monthly wage; about 50,900 wage employees with an average of monthly wage by 1,035 NIS. The large number of those who received less than the minimum monthly wage was in Hebron governorate of about 14,000 persons with average of monthly wage by 955 NIS.

In Gaza Strip, the percentage of wage employees in the private sector who received less than minimum monthly wage was 60% of about 50,700 wage employees with an average of monthly wage 718 NIS. The large number of those who received less than the minimum monthly wage was in Gaza governorate of about 21,100 persons with an average of monthly wage by 754 NIS.

The average actual weekly work hours in Palestine was 42 hours; 39 hours for wage employees in the public sector, 44 hours in the private sector.

PCBS said that about one fifth of wage employees received retirement benefits; about 21% of wage employees received retirement or end of service benefits; while 22% received paid annual leave, 35% of female wage employees received paid maternity leave and 22% received paid annual sick leave.

it reported that more than one fourth of wage employees in the private sector have work contract; 28% of wage employees in the private sector have work contract in Palestine; 25% in the West Bank and 35% in Gaza Strip.

PCBS further added that more than one fourth of wage employees in the private sector are affiliated to labor or professional unions; 22% of wage employees in Palestine were affiliated to labor or professional union; 13% in the West Bank and 44% in Gaza Strip.

M.N/T.R