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Demography and Labour Forces

The Palestinian human resource is an important economic resource, with its cultural, experiential and competitive advantages. The Palestinian society is characterized as a young society, in which its population of 1 to 14 years old (41%) is of the total population (5,164,173).

Labour Law
The PA recently passed a draft to harmonize the separate laws between the West Bank and Gaza. The following table outlines the new amalgamated labour practices and policies

Issue
Policy
Work Day / Week Maximum 45 hrs/week; no daily
Weekly Holiday One day per-week, any day
Overtime Pay 150% of salary for overtime
Annual Leave Minimum of 14 days for the first 5 years of employment; minimum of 21 days thereafter. **
Severance Pay 1 month of salary (excluding overtime hours) accrued per year, with no accumulation .
Worker's Accident Insurance All employers are required to carry insurance for employees.
Sick Leave Days 1-14=100% of salary; Days 15 - 28=50% of salary.
Minimum Wage 1,880 NIS
Transportation Reimbursement None required.
Maternity Leave 100% of pay for a total leave period of 10 weeks, providing that 6 weeks are taken after the delivery day.
Social Security None
 Source: Labour Law

Percentage Distribution of Population Aged 15 Years and Above in Palestine by Labour Force Status and Region, 2020(ILO Definition)

Southern Governorates 

Northern Governorates

Palestine

 Labour Force Status (Inside Labour Force)

424,300

886,800

1,291,100

NO. (Inside Labour Force)

52.2

83.1

72.9

Full Employment 

1.2

1.2

1.2

Time Related Underemployment

46.6

15.7

25.9

Unemployment

 

Southern Governorates 

Northern Governorates

Palestine

 Labour Force Status (Outside Labour Force)

778,100

1,084,400

1,862,500

NO. (Outside Labour Force)

16.6

14.0

15.1

Housekeeping

36.7

49.4

44.1

Study

27.1

28.6

28.0

Old/ill

19.6

8.0

12.8

Other

 

Persons Aged 15 Years and Above in Palestine by Labour Force Characteristics and Region, 2017-2020 (ILO Definition)

Labour Force Characteristics and Region

2017

2018

2019

2020

Palestine

Labour Force Participation Rate

45.4

46.4

44.3

40.9

Unemployment Rate

27.2

26.2

25.3

25.9

Northern Governorates

Labour Force Participation Rate

46.2

45.9

46.4

44.4

Unemployment Rate

13.2

17.3

14.6

15.7

Southern Governorates 

Labour Force Participation Rate

44.2

39.6

40.9

35.3

Unemployment Rate

48.2

43.1

45.1

46.6

 

Percentage Distribution of Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Above in Palestine by Economic Activity, 2020

Economic Activity

Number

Percentage

Agricultural, Hunting, Forestry & Fishing

60,700

6.4

Mining, Quarrying & Manufacturing

125,000

13.1

Construction

160,200

16.8

Commerce, Hotels & Restaurants

176,300

18.5

Transportation, Storage

46,500

4.9

Information and communication

12,300

1.3

Accommodation and food service activities

26,100

2.7

Human health and social work activities

44,700

4.7

Education

107,800

11.3

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

7,300

0.8

Other service activities

188,100

19.5

Total

955,000

100

 

 

Estimated Population in Palestine by Region and Sex End 2021

Region

Both Sex

Sex

Male

Female

Palestine

5,290,925

2,689,117

2,601,808

Northern Governorates

3,154,418

1,606,571

1,547,847

Southern Governorates 

2,136,507

1,082,546

1,053,961

 

Average Household Size in Palestine by Region, 2018-2020

Region

2018

2019

2020

Palestine

5.0

5.1

5.1

Northren Governorates (West Bank)

4.6

4.9

4.7

Southren governorates (Gaza Strip)

5.7

5.5

5.7

 

General Education Palestine, 2017/2018 – 2019/2020

Indicators

Scholastic Years

2017/2018

2018/2019

2019/2020

                                                                     Schools                       

Government

2,203

2,234

2,259

UNRWA

370

370

372

Private

425

433

443

Total

2,998

3,037

3,074

Students

Males

620,597

635,662

649,320

Females

632,641

646,392

659,845

Total

1,253,238

1,282,054

1,309,165

Teachers

Males

26,343

26,549

27,159

Females

42,008

42,954

44,467

Total

68,351

69,413

71,626

 
 Note: The data doesn’t include school affiliated with Israeli Municipality and Culture Committee in Jerusalem

Higher Education Indicators in Palestine, 2017/2018 – 2019/2020
 

Indicators

Scholastic Years

2017/2018

2018/2019

2019/2020

University Students

Males

25,042

24,188

25,506

Females

35,847

35,904

36,745

Total

60,889

60,092

61,251

University Graduates

Males

18,841

16,967

15,636

Females

28,558

28,746

26,758

Total

47,399

45,722

42,394

Teaching Staff at Universities

Males

5,066

5,853

18,827

Females

1,459

1,693

28,541

Total

6,525

7,546

47,368

Teaching Staff at Community Collage

Males

11,618

11,847

12,085

Females

4,398

4,569

4,680

Total

16,016

16,416

16,765


*    University data include Students and graduates of intermediate diploma, bachelor and graduate studies in universities and university colleges
**  Full time and Part time

Cultural Institutions Operating in Palestine by Type and Governorate, 2020
 

Region

Type of Institution

Cultural Centers

Museums

Theaters

Cinemas

Total

Palestine

528

32

16

2

578

Northern Governorates

473

27

13

2

515

Southern Governorates 

55

5

3

0

63

 
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