The unemployment rate in Gaza and the West Bank has surged to an average of 51.1% over the past 12 months as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to the latest report released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The West Bank’s unemployment rate averaged 34.9% between early October 2023 and the end of September 2024, ILO researchers found. In Gaza, it averaged 79.7% during the same period of time.
“The ILO is working with its partners to facilitate a recovery that prioritises infrastructure development, creating decent jobs, skills development and inclusive economic support,” said ILO Regional Director for Arab States, Ruba Jaradat.
The events of the past year have significantly damaged the area’s economy. In its September 2024 update, the World Bank found the Palestinian territories suffered a 35% decline in GDP in the first quarter of 2024, in what was described as the region’s “largest economic contraction on record.”
Over the last 12 months, the real GDP of Gaza and the West Bank has declined by an average of 32.2%, ILO said. The West Bank saw a contraction of 21.7% compared to the preceding 12 months, while GDP in the Gaza Strip dropped by 84.7%
The worsening economic conditions in the West Bank are estimated to have more than doubled the short-term poverty rate, rising from 12% in 2023 to 28% by mid-2024, according to ILO figures. In the Gaza Strip, nearly 100% of the population is estimated to be living in poverty.