Summer Layoffs Expected to Decline in 2026, But Repeat Offender Rate Remains High

The number of "summer layoffs" in Israel is projected to decrease in 2026, with an estimated maximum of 15,000 workers affected, according to an analysis by the Employment Service. This figure represents a decline from approximately 20,100 in 2025 and 15,800 in 2024. The phenomenon of summer layoffs typically occurs annually when the education system closes, with employees being rehired at the start of the school year or after holidays.

Analysis reveals that 86% of summer layoff recipients are women. The risk of repeated layoffs is particularly high for individuals aged 55 and over, among the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population, and in the education and sports sectors. The Employment Service highlights that for a significant portion of these workers, this is not an isolated incident but a recurring pattern of unemployment during the summer months.

Nearly half (48.9%) of this year's summer layoff recipients were also laid off in the summer of 2025, and 36.4% experienced this in 2024. Approximately 37% of summer layoff recipients between 2019 and 2026 have returned to employment offices at least twice, 19% at least three times, and 11% have been classified as summer layoffs in at least four different years. This "revolving door" effect creates ongoing employment discontinuity for these groups.

The statistical analysis also indicates a correlation between age and the likelihood of repeated layoffs. Compared to those 34 and under, individuals aged 35-54 face a 34% higher risk of repeated summer layoffs, and those 55 and over face a 53% higher risk. Additionally, the risk for non-Haredi Jews is 20% lower than for Haredim, and for men, it is 10% lower than for women.

While summer layoff recipients tend to return to work faster than other job seekers, utilizing fewer unemployment days on average (64.3 days compared to 132.3 for others), the recurring nature of these layoffs leads to cumulative damage to employment continuity, income, seniority, and social rights, including unemployment benefit entitlements. "The data shows that the meaning of summer layoffs is much more than a seasonal phenomenon," stated Inbal Mashiach, CEO of the Employment Service. "The high risk of recurrence, especially among working women in certain professions, highlights that even though summer layoff recipients return to the workforce quickly, when the phenomenon repeats over the years, it creates cumulative damage to employment continuity, income, seniority, and social rights of the workers."