The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) stated in a recently released report that 367,000 Palestinians are unemployed in Gaza and the West Bank.
The PCBS reported that the unemployment rate in 2022 was lower than in 2021, when it was 372 thousand. This was due to an increased labor force participation rate of 45%, up from 43% in 2021, resulting in a 24% rate of labor force participants compared to 26% in 2021.
PCBS reported a drop in the unemployment rate for both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, from 16% and 47% respectively in 2021 to 13% and 45% respectively.
According to PCBS, the total labor underutilization fell from 34% (500 thousand persons) in 2021 to 31% in 2022, with 56 thousand discouraged jobseekers and 22 thousand in time-related underemployment.
In 2022, Hebron and Jenin Governorates in the West Bank had the highest unemployment rate of approximately 17%, with Bethlehem Governorate not far behind at around 15%, while Jerusalem Governorate had the most advantageous rate at 3%.
The Governorate of Dier Al-Balah in the Gaza Strip had the most elevated rate of unemployment at 55%, while Khan Yunis followed close behind at nearly 49%. North Gaza was the Governorate with the least unemployment rate of 38%.
The Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and West Bank has been a major contributing factor to the high unemployment rate in these regions.
This is mostly due to restrictions on trade, the confiscation of land, and the limitation of access to resources by the Israeli occupation.
The closure of the Gaza Strip has had a particularly damaging effect on the economy, with many businesses unable to export their products and few opportunities for employment.
The expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank has resulted in restrictions on Palestinian movement, preventing many from accessing job opportunities. This has exacerbated the already high unemployment rate in the region and has had a negative impact on the livelihoods of Palestinians.
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