أثر الاستثمار في تكنولوجيا المعلومات و الاتصالات على معدل البطالة في فلسطين (2016 م-2000 م)‎

الملخص EN

The study aimed at measuring the impact of investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on unemployment in Palestine during the period of 2000-2016.

The researchers adopted the econometric approach to estimate the regression relationship between the independent variable (gross fixed capital formation in ICT in constant prices) and the dependent variable (unemployment rates) in Palestine.

The findings showed that the elasticity of investment in ICT during the period of the study reached -6.45E05 ; meaning that increasing investment in ICT by 1 % will reduce the unemployment rate in Palestine by 0.006 %, which indicates the existence of a negative relationship between investment in ICT and unemployment in Palestine.

The correlation between the dependent variable and the independent variable was -0.395, which resembles an average negative correlation between the two variables.

Accordingly, the study recommends creating an accurate and up-to-date database containing all ICT sector details, and to strengthen the role of the government in the development of the ICT sector through issuing laws and legislations that would benefit from the potential of this sector.

Consequently, this provides opportunities for development.

Also, modernizing universities, technical and engineering colleges’ academic curriculums and programs to meet labor market needs ; besides supporting and developing technological business incubators due to their important role in promoting new job opportunities.