Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Presents the Reality of the Private and Non-Government Enterprises in Palestine in Light of the Israeli Occupation Aggression against Gaza Strip

A sharp decline in the local production of the private sector’s enterprise and an unprecedented decline in employment rates in the economic sectors in 2024 

Local production of the private sector’s enterprises in Palestine decreased by 25% in 2024
The private sector in the Palestinian Economy endured huge losses, as a result of the halt or decline in the production cycle in 2024 in the West Bank, and the destruction of the productive infrastructure in Gaza Strip.

Moreover, the local production in the West Bank declined by 12.1% during the same period, and declined in Gaza Strip by 84%. 

Furthermore, the results indicated that the services sector is one of the most affected economic sectors in Palestine, as the decline in production in this sector reached 22% in the West Bank, and 81% in Gaza Strip, followed by the construction activity by 15% in the West Bank, and 99% in Gaza Strip, while the internal trade, industrial and other services activity declined by 10% in the West Bank, and 78% in Gaza Strip. 

A Sharp Decline in Employment Rates in the Private and Non-Government Sectors in the West Bank* by about 11% during 2024

There is no doubt that the war against Gaza Strip has had a detrimental impact on economic activities in the West Bank, where data indicates a decline of 11% in the number of employed persons in the West Bank.

At the sectoral level, the number of employed persons in the construction sector in Palestine decreased by 23%, followed by the transportation and storage activities by 20% and the services activity by 19%. Hence, other economic activities were also affected, albeit to a lesser extent. 

67% of the Total Number of Employees in Private and Non-Government Enterprises in the West Bank* during 2024 are Waged Employees

290,314 employed persons in economic enterprises operating in the West Bank, a decrease of 11% compared with 2023.

As for the percentage distribution in 2024, internal trade activity contributed to the highest percentage of employment with 35.7% of the total number of employed persons, followed by services activity that constituted 28.5%, industry activity by 25.4%, finance and insurance activities by 5.8%, information and communications activities by 2.1%, the percentage for both the transportation and storage activities and construction activities reached 1.4% and 1.1%, respectively.

The number of unpaid employees (owners of the enterprises and their households’ members) constituted 33.0% of the total number of employees, and wage employees constituted 67.0% of the total number of employees. The total value of compensation for wage employees reached USD 1,929.2 million. 

Industry Activities Constituted the Highest Value of Output of the Economic Activities in the West Bank*

The total value of output by economic enterprises was USD 10,870.2 million in the West Bank, indicating a decrease of 12.1% compared with 2023.

Regarding the percentage distribution in 2024, industrial activities contributed with 36.2% of the total output, followed by internal trade activities that constituted 31.0%, services activity reached 15.4%, finance and insurance activities reached 11.1%, information and communications activities reached 4.1%, while the percentage for both the construction activities and transportation and storage activities reached 1.3% and 0.9%, respectively.

A Decrease of 14.3% in the Value Added of the Economic Activities in the West Bank* in 2024, Compared with 2023.

The results showed that the total value added of economic activities in 2024 was USD 7,196.1 million, with a decrease of 14.3% compared with 2023.

In 2024, the highest value added was from internal trade activities with a percentage of 38.8%, followed by industry activities with a percentage of 25.0%, services activity with a percentage of 17.8%, finance and insurance activities with a percentage of 11.4%, information and communications activities with a percentage of 5%, construction 1.1%, and transportation and storage with a percentage of 0.9%.

Note:

*Data exclude those parts of Jerusalem, which were annexed by Israeli occupation in 1967.