世界银行-新冠肺炎疫情对西岸和加沙劳动力市场的影响（英）-2023.10-44页_2mb

Background

• COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted labor markets globally, with limited evidence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
• The West Bank and Gaza were studied due to their unique labor market features: fragmented labor markets, large informal sector, and cross-border commuting.

Data and Methods

• Quarterly labor force survey data from 2000 onward, covering men aged 20–59.
• Used regression models to compare labor market stocks and flows in the West Bank and Gaza before and during the pandemic (2020–2021).

Key Findings

• Stock Adjustments:
  • 5 percentage points decline in male employment and 15 hours reduction in weekly work hours in the West Bank in 2020.
  • Heterogeneous effects: Non-private sector workers (e.g., informal, blue-collar) faced higher job losses. Refugees and the least educated were disproportionately affected.
• Flow Adjustments:
  • Job separation rates increased by 5 percentage points in the West Bank and 3 in Gaza, while job gains declined similarly.

Conclusion and Policy Implications

• Labor markets recovered quickly in aggregate but remained highly uneven. Targeted support is needed for vulnerable groups like informal workers and those in refugee camps.
• The study underscores the role of cross-border migration and digital access in pandemic labor market impacts.

Contributions

• Provides detailed evidence for MENA economies, highlighting resilience and inequality in labor market adjustments during COVID-19.
• Offers insights for policies focused on inclusivity and support for informal workers.