WUNRN
ILO - International Labour
Organization
PALESTINE - EMPLOYMENT BLEAK,
ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN, & PARTICULARLY IN GAZA
Direct Link to Full 60-Page 2014 ILO
Report:
Multiple Report Translations:
Palestine
Labour Market Developments
38. The Palestinian population aged 15 and above and the total Palestinian labour force grew by 3.6 and 3.7 per cent respectively in 2013, resulting in a practically unchangedoverall labour force participation rate of 43.6 per cent (see table 2.2). This rate remains low as a consequence of a particularly low rate of participation of women (even by regional standards), at just 17.3 per cent, compared to a rate of 69.3 per cent for men. Social and cultural norms, weak labour demand in the formal economy, institutional barriers and Israeli restrictions on movement and access all compound to keep a large majority of women out of the labour market. In view of the relatively high levels of women’s educational attainment, this represents a significant loss of economic potential.
39. The overall rate of unemployment rose to 23.4 per cent, as the total number of unemployed grew by 5.6 per cent, from 256,000 in 2012 to 270,000 in 2013. The unemployment rate for men stood at 20.6 per cent, while for women it reached 35.1 per cent, further highlighting the dearth of opportunities for the limited number of women who enter the labour market. The largest increase in unemployment took place in Gaza during the fourth quarter of the year, as the tunnel economy was effectively shut down by Egypt, without commensurate Israeli measures to ease the blockade. Gaza’s construction and transport industries, which were particularly reliant on the tunnel trade, effectively ground to a halt. As a result, the unemployment rate for men soared from 22.7 per cent in the second quarter of the year to 34.8 per cent in the fourth quarter. The unemployment rate for women stood at 53.4 per cent in the fourth quarter, having remained consistently above 50 per cent for the entire year. Few formal employment opportunities exist for women in Gaza beyond the realm of public sector jobs in health and education. Consequently, a large majority of women participating in the labour force are either unemployed or work informally as cleaners, in childcare, or as unpaid contributing family workers in agricultural activities.
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Young Palestinian jobseekers face an even more serious challenge as the youth unemployment rate reached almost 40 per cent in 2013. The unemployment rate for young men was 36.9 per cent, while for young women it was much higher at 64.7 per cent.
Under the current circumstances, the report says, growth will not be forthcoming because of the Palestinian population’s lack of access to resources, including land and water. Major obstacles to the free movement of goods and services and private sector investment compound this situation.
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