RAMALLAH, April 30, 2012 (WAFA) – Marking International Labor Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report published Monday that unemployment rate in the Palestinian Territory reached 21% in 2011.

It said 222,000 people of the labor force are unemployed, 19% of them males and 28% females.

The unemployment rate in the West Bank was 17% (about 124,000 Palestinians) -- 16% males and 23% females -- compared to 29% in Gaza Strip (98,000 Palestinians) -- 26% males and 44% females.

About 52% of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory during 2011 worked in the private sector -- 55% in the West Bank and 54% in Gaza-- compared to 34% who work in the public sector -- 24% in West Bank and 46% in Gaza -- while 14% work in Israel and Israeli settlements.

The PCBS classified 22% of wage employees in the Palestinian Territory during 2010 as poor. It said 17% were in the West Bank and 33% in Gaza Strip.

The participation rate of men in the labor force is four times higher than the participation of women as 69% of males and 17% of females are employed.

R.Q./M.S.