PM's Office Fails on Diversity Goals, Lags in Representation
An examination of the Prime Minister's Office under Benjamin Netanyahu during the last term reveals consistent gaps in the representation of various populations among its employees, according to data from the Civil Service Commission for 2021-2025. The "Ministermeter" project by "Transparent" assessed the office's performance on employment diversity, finding significant shortfalls compared to national targets.
The most pronounced deficits are seen in the employment of individuals with disabilities, Arab citizens, and new immigrants. Representation of people with disabilities fell from 1.3% in 2021 to 0.8% in 2025, far below the 5% target. Arab representation also remained low, at 2.3% in 2025 against a 10% goal, despite a slight improvement from 1.6% in 2021. New immigrants saw their representation triple from 0.2% to 0.6% over the period, but this is still significantly short of the 3% target set in May 2024.
Conversely, the representation of Ethiopian Israelis exceeded the government's target of 1.7% throughout the entire five-year period, reaching 2.6% in 2025. The representation of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) employees rose from 3.8% in 2021 to a high of 5.7% in 2023, before declining slightly to 5.1% in 2025. However, this figure cannot be directly compared to the 7% target for new hires from the Haredi community.
The "Ministermeter" project evaluates government ministries based on uniform parameters and documented sources, assessing not only promises and results but also transparency and parliamentary oversight. The principle of "adequate representation" in civil service aims to correct historical disadvantages and structural barriers, ensuring fair distribution of public resources and opportunities.
Overall, the Prime Minister's Office received a failing grade in employment diversity. While there were positive trends for Ethiopian Israelis and some gains for Arab citizens and new immigrants, the persistent underrepresentation of people with disabilities and Arab citizens highlights significant ongoing challenges in achieving equitable employment within the Prime Minister's Office.
