Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
On the occasion of May 1st - International Workers Day
Ms. Ola Awad, President of PCBS, presents the current status of Palestinian labour
force during 2011
Participation of men in the labour force is four times higher than the participation of women
The participation rate in the labour force of persons aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory
during 2011 reached 43% distributed as 69% for males and 17% for females. On the level of the West
bank, the participation rate reached 46%, thereof 71% for males compared to 19% for females. Regarding
Gaza Strip, about 38% of persons in the same age group participated in the labour force during 2011
distributed as 64% for males and 12% for females.
Labour Force Participation Rate of Persons Aged 15 Years and Over by Sex, 2006-2011
Males
80
Females
70
percentage
60
68.7
66.7
50
40
30
20
14.6
16.6
10
0
2006
2007
2008
Years
2009
2010
2011
Relatively high unemployment rates
The unemployment rate among participants aged 15 years and over in the Palestinian Territory during
2011 reached 21% (About 222 thousand persons were unemployed); 19% for males and 28% for
females). The unemployment rate in the West Bank was 17% ( about 124 thousand); 16% for males
and 23% for females compared with 29% in Gaza Strip (98 thousand); 26% for males and 44% for
females.
Unemployment Rate of Participants in the Labour Force Aged 15 Years and Over by Region,
2006-2011
percentage
West Bank
50
46
42
38
34
30
26
22
18
14
10
Gaza Strip
34.8
28.7
18.8
2006
17.3
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Years
More than half of a million wage employees
The number of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory amounted to 558 thousand in 2011, of
whom 300 thousand work in the West Bank and 177 thousand work in Gaza Strip; while 69 thousand
work in Israel and 12 thousands in Israeli settlement.
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The Public Sector is the dominant employer in Gaza Strip
About 52% of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory during 2011 work in the private sector
compared with 34% work in the public sector; while the percentage of workers in Israel and Israeli
settlements reached 14%.
Regarding wage employees in the West Bank, more than half of these employees work in the private
sector 55% compared with 24% in the public sector and 21% work in Israel and Israeli settlements. The
public sector was the largest employer in Gaza Strip with 54% compared with 46% in the private
sector.
About one fifth of wage employees are poor
About 22% of wage employees are poor in the Palestinian Territory in 2010 of whom 17% in the West
Bank and 33% in Gaza Strip.
About quarter of employees work in technical and specialized occupations
About 24% of wage employees work as professionals or technicians in the Palestinian Territory during
2011; distributed as 21% in the West Bank and 31% in Gaza Strip. In addition, 15% of wage
employees in the Palestinian Territory work in craft occupations distributed as 91% in the West Bank
and 7% in Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, about 97% of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory received vocational
training distributed as 97% in the West Bank and 16% in Gaza Strip.
Average daily real wage of females is low compared to males
The average daily real wage in the Palestinian Territory during 2011 reached 69 NIS while it reached
71 NIS for males compared with 60 NIS for females; 78 NIS in the West Bank and 47 NIS in Gaza
Strip.
Services sector in the private sector in 2011 recorded the highest average daily wage at 102 NIS in the
West Bank and 85 NIS in Gaza Strip, followed by transport and communication sector with 94 NIS in
the West Bank and 43 NIS in Gaza Strip. The agriculture sector recorded the lowest average daily
wage at 58 NIS in the West Bank and 29 NIS in Gaza Strip.
The average work week in hours in the Palestinian Territory during 2011 reached 41 hours distributed
as 40 hours for employed persons in the public sector, 42 hours in the private sector.
About quarter of wage employees receive retirement benefits
Regarding work related benefits, about 24% of wage employees receive retirement or end of service
benefits; while 25% receive paid annual leave and 25% receive paid annual sick leave. In addition,
54% of female wage employees receive paid maternity leave. More than 90% of wage employees in the
public sector receive most of work related benefits and privileges such as sick leave, annual leave,
maternity leave, …etc.
One third of wage employees in the private sector have work contract
30% of wage employees in the private sector have work contract in the Palestinian Territory during
2011; thereof 38% in the West Bank and 20% in Gaza Strip.
Less than one fifth of wage employees are affiliated to labour or professional unions
About 16% of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory were affiliated to labour or professional
union, distributed as 15% in the West Bank and 97% in Gaza Strip.
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