Palestinian graduates in the West Bank enter a collapsed job market
Summary
Many young Palestinians graduating from universities in the West Bank face a hard time finding jobs due to a weak economy and political problems. Unemployment is very high, especially after Israel froze many work permits, making the job market even harder for new graduates.Key Facts
- About 40% of young Palestinians with diplomas in the West Bank are unemployed.
- Overall unemployment rose to 35.2% in early 2024, then slightly decreased to 27.5% by the end of 2025.
- Israel stopped work permits for 115,000 Palestinians from the West Bank, limiting their ability to work in Israel.
- Graduates often compete for very few jobs, and many jobs ask for work experience that new graduates do not have.
- The Palestinian public sector, once a stable employer, is now unreliable because the Palestinian Authority struggles to pay salaries.
- Since 2021, Israel has been holding back large amounts of Palestinian tax money, which worsened after October 2023.
- Many graduates feel discouraged and question the value of their degrees due to the lack of job opportunities.
- Students face additional challenges like military raids, roadblocks, and shifting between in-person and online classes due to political tensions.
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