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The unemployment rate in Palestine reached 29.3% in Q1 2014

2014-05-07

The number of persons participating in the labor force in Palestine was about 1,253,600 in the 1st quarter 2014; about 812,200 in the West Bank and about 441,400 in Gaza Strip. The labor force participation rate in the West Bank was 47.2% and 44.8% in Gaza Strip; the gap in the participation rate between males and females in Palestine is still very big. It reached 71.9% for males compared with 20.1% for females. On the other hand, Using ILO standards, the number of unemployed was increased from 301,200 in the 4th quarter 2013 to 328,000 in the 1st quarter 2014: the number increased in Gaza Strip from 159,600 in 4th quarter 2013 to 180,200 in 1st quarter 2014, also it increased in the West Bank from 141,600 to 147,800 in the same period. The unemployment rate in Gaza Strip increased from 38.5% in the 4th quarter 2013 to 40.8% in the 1st quarter 2014 while it was at the same level in the West Bank at 18.2% in the same period, and the unemployment rate for males in Palestine was 23.3% compared with 36.5% for females in the 1st quarter 2014.  The highest unemployment rate in the 1st quarter 2014 was 43.0% among youth aged    20-24 years. For years of schooling, the unemployment rate among females with 13 years of schooling or more was 49.7%.The highest unemployment rates in the West Bank governorates was in Jerusalem with 21.4%. In Gaza Strip, the highest unemployment rate was in Khan Younis with 46.4%. According to the relaxed definition of unemployment in Palestine, the unemployment rate increased from 28.6% in the 4th quarter 2013 to 29.3% in the 1stquarter 2014.