Figures released on Labor Day have revealed that the number of unemployed Palestinians had increased to 372,000 in 2021, compared to 335,000 in 2020.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics issued a statement noting that unemployment rate among labor force participants in Palestine remained unchanged at about 26% in 2021.
According to the statement, the unemployment rate maintained the same rate for the West Bank and Gaza Strip at about 16% and 47%, respectively.
It said the total labor underutilization rate dropped from about 36% in 2020 to 34% in 2021 (524,200 persons including 72,500 discouraged jobseekers and 26,400 in time-related underemployment).
Bethlehem governorate recorded the highest unemployment rate in the West Bank at about 25%, followed by Jenin and Hebron governorates at about 19% for each, while Jerusalem recorded four percent, the lowest among the West Bank governorates.
In Gaza Strip, Dier al-Balah governorate recorded the highest unemployment rate at about 53%, followed by Khan Yunis at about 51%. While North Gaza governorate reached about 38%, which is the lowest among the Gaza Strip governorates.
The statement said the number of workers in Palestine was around 1.3 million — 630,000 in the West Bank, 259,000 in the Gaza Strip, and 145,000 in Israel and the settlements.
