Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) has said that the number of unemployed persons increased in the Palestinian territories by 2.6% between 3rd and 4th quarter 2005.
In a press release on Monday, PCBS revealed that the percentage of participants in labour force decreased by 3.4% between the 3rd quarter 2005 and the 4th quarter 2005, where it decreased from 41.7% in the 3rd quarter 2005 to 40.3% in the 4th quarter 2005, compared with 43.5% in the 3rd quarter 2000, adding that the participation rate of women decreased from 14.2% in the 3rd quarter 2005 to 13.1% in the 4th quarter 2005 (the number decreased by 10 thousand women).
The report showed that the percentage of persons who don't work increased from 28.4% in the 3rd quarter 2005 to 29.4% in the 4th quarter 2005, compared with 20.2% in the 3rd quarter 2000.
"Those who don't work, but seeking job, in the 3rd quarter 2005 increased from 22.7% to 23.8% in the 4th quarter 2005 according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards compared with 10.0% in the 3rd quarter 2000 (before the beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada)," the report added.
PCBS pointed out that the results showed that unemployment rate in the West Bank increased from 19% in the 3rd quarter 2005 to 21.8% in the 4th quarter 2005, while in Gaza Strip it decreased from 29% in the 3rd quarter to 28.2% in the 4th quarter 2005, despite of that unemployment rate in Gaza Strip still high.
It added that Hebron governorate registered the highest percentage of unemployment rate among the West Bank governorates which reached 29.6% followed by Jenin governorate (28.8%) then Tulkarem (24.4%), while in Gaza Strip, Deir al-Balah governorate registered the highest percentage of unemployment rate (37.9%) followed by Gaza North governorate (34.5%)."
"The results showed that the highest percentage of unemployment concentrated among the youth, the highest percentage registered for the age group 15-19 it reached 37.2% (34.0% in the West Bank compared with 45.1% in Gaza Strip), there of 24.4% for women and 38.0% for men, followed by 20-24 age group it reached 36.3%, thereof 33.3% for men and 49.5% for women (32.1% in the West Bank 44.3% in Gaza Strip), then 25-29 group, it reached 26.9%, 26.5% the West Bank compared with 27.8% in Gaza Strip), thereof 37.9% for women and 24.6% for men", the report revealed.
PCBS said that the employed persons between the 3rd and 4th quarter 2005 reached 632 thousand compared with 657 thousand in the 3rd quarter 2005.
