Mixed Employment Trends: Haredi Men's Jobs Rise, Women in High-Tech Struggle

The employment rate for Haredi men increased from 54% in the first quarter of the year to 56.2% in the second quarter, reaching its highest point since the third quarter of 2023. This rise, from a low of 52.8% in late 2025, contrasts with previous years where the rate hovered around 52% after a significant jump from 37% in 2003 to 52% in 2016. This trend is seen as a blow to Haredi rabbis and parties who encourage young men to remain in yeshivas, suggesting that sanctions on yeshiva students are creating economic hardship and pushing them into the workforce. Concurrently, a report on Haredi women in high-tech reveals they constitute 8.8% of job seekers in the sector, yet only 5.5% to 6.2% of those employed. The number of Haredi women seeking high-tech jobs rose by 28.5% in the past year, compared to 11.2% among non-Haredi Jewish women. Nearly 70% of these Haredi job seekers are in software roles, which are particularly vulnerable to AI advancements. While the overall employment rate for Haredi women has risen to 80.8%, efforts are now focused on securing them stable, high-paying positions. Despite media attention, Haredi women remain underrepresented in high-tech, making up only about 5.5% of women employed in the field. A significant portion of Haredi women seeking high-tech jobs are under 34, reflecting the sector's relatively recent entry into the Haredi community. The increasing concentration of Haredi women in software roles, coupled with potential AI displacement and a lower proportion of academic degrees compared to non-Haredi women, presents challenges for their employment stability.