Decent Work in the West Bank: Assessing Youth and Women's Employment Under Fragility and Conflict

Fadi Daraghmeh and Sameh Hallaq

Economics Working Paper Archive from Levy Economics Institute

Abstract: This study examines the state of decent work in the West Bank, focusing on the intersection of labor market conditions, gender disparities, and the fragility of legal enforcement. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines labor force surveys, qualitative interviews, and institutional analysis, we document substantial gaps in labor rights, social protection, and equitable employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth. The findings reveal that informal work, weak regulatory frameworks, and limited access to social protection undermine progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8 of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and productive employment. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for comprehensive legal reform, targeted skills development, and social protection expansion to enhance labor market inclusion and economic resilience in fragile contexts.

Keywords: Decent work; West Bank; Youth; Women; creative industries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J21 J38 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05
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