Palestinian unemployment average decreased last year

The Palestinian central statistics department said the unemployment average reaches 11.5% in the West Bank and 20.3% in Gazza strip. The department said that the average of Palestinian unemployment decreased to 14.4% in 1998 from 20.3% in 1997, due to new jobs for workers in Israel and the Palestinian public sector.

Saleh Kafari, manager of the work statistics department said that more than 30,000 Palestinians found new work opportunities in Israel in 1998, especially in the construction sector.