New estimates from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reveal the loss of 507,000 Palestinian jobs to date, due the ongoing war in Gaza, shedding light on how the disruptions to economic life have led to unprecedented losses in employment and livelihoods across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Some 507,000 jobs have been lost across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) as of the end of January 2024, according to new estimates issued by the ILO and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on the impact of the war in Gaza on the labour market and livelihoods.
The new data estimates that (as 31 January 2024) around 201,000 jobs have been lost in the Gaza Strip, accounting for around two thirds of total employment in the enclave. In addition, 306,000 jobs (over one third of total employment) were also lost in the West Bank, where economic conditions have been severely impacted.
The data is published in the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory: Bulletin No. 3’ – the latest ILO and PCBS joint briefs, which outline the impact of the hostilities on the OPT labour market. Previous estimates had put job losses at 468,000 jobs across the OPT.
“In addition to the devastating and catastrophic loss of life and with the people of Gaza on the brink of mass starvation, the war has also caused an economic and social crisis that is unprecedented in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” said ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat.
“In Gaza, entire neighbourhoods have been wiped from existence. Infrastructure, energy and water facilities have been demolished. Schools, medical facilities, and businesses have been destroyed. This has decimated entire economic sectors and paralyzed labour market activity, with untold repercussions on the lives and livelihoods of Palestinians for generations to come.”
“We are working with our partners and the international community to provide both immediate relief and longer-term assistance to mitigate the impact of the crisis on affected Palestinian workers and employers,” Jaradat said.
