The Central Administration of Statistics in cooperation with the International Labor Organization launched a new study, which shows the results of updating the labor force survey in Lebanon for the year 2022. The data collection process for the survey extended from December 27, 2021 till January 31, 2022.
In the period between 2018 and 2019, the unemployment rate in Lebanon increased from 11.4 percent to 29.6 percent, last January.
The study indicated that “nearly a third of the active labor force was unemployed” at the beginning of 2022, noting that the unemployment rate among women is higher than it is among men.
According to the survey, which included a sample of 5,444 families from different governorates, the “Informal employment”, which is not adequately covered by formal arrangements and protection systems, represents now more than 60 percent of the total employment in Lebanon.
As for the unemployment rate by governorate, it increased in each of them, without exception.
Baalbek-Hermel governorate witnessed the highest increase in the unemployment rate, which recorded about 30%, from 11% in 2018-2019 to 7.40% in 2022.
It is followed by the governorates of South Lebanon and the Bekaa
The results of the survey showed that 30% of the unemployed have been looking for work, for more than two years. And 19% for a period extending between one and two years, which means that about half of the unemployed in 2022 are from the ranks of long-term unemployment that exceeds a year.
Healthily, 6.55% of citizens did not benefit from health insurance during 2018-2019, and their percentage rose to 49% this year.
So, the new parliament must focus on finding solutions to stop the bleeding of unemployment and immigration, and the need to pass laws related to health insurance, otherwise the situation will be much worse in the coming months.