Israel's Job Vacancies Rise to Nearly 150,000
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Israel's job vacancies rose to nearly 148,000 in September, a 2.7% increase from August, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. This surge follows a period of decline and brings vacancy levels back to near record highs. The high numbers are attributed to widespread reserve duty and restrictions on Palestinian workers, with significant shortages in low-wage sectors, while high-tech demand remains low.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's job vacancies increased by 2.7% to approximately 148,000 in September.
- The rise in vacancies returns the number to near record highs seen previously.
- Widespread reserve military duty and restrictions on Palestinian workers are key factors.
- Low-wage, unskilled positions, especially in hospitality and construction, show significant shortages.
- Demand for high-tech professionals remains subdued, with fewer engineering vacancies than in 2022.
The number of job vacancies in Israel increased by 2.7% in September, reaching approximately 148,000, up from 144,100 in August. This marks a return to very high levels, nearing 150,000, after a dip the previous month. The proportion of vacancies relative to all jobs in the economy also rose, from 4.33% in August to 4.42% in September, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
These figures follow a period of gradual decline in vacancies throughout 2023, which had suggested a potential stabilization around 114,500 by September of that year. However, the outbreak of the war has complicated the definition of a "normal" labor market. The current vacancy levels are considered very high, with a record of 152,900 recorded in December. This surge is not necessarily indicative of economic prosperity, similar to a rise observed after the COVID-19 pandemic which pointed to a mismatch between candidate skills and job requirements.
Two primary factors are currently believed to be driving the high vacancy numbers: widespread reserve military duty and restrictions on the entry of Palestinian workers. The data also highlights persistent difficulties in filling low-wage, unskilled positions, particularly those typically held by young people. Significant shortages exist in sectors such as hospitality (around 13,500 vacancies for waiters, bartenders, and cooks), construction (approximately 8,400), driving (5,800, a 10% increase in two months), and kitchen and cleaning staff (5,600).
In contrast, demand for high-tech professionals has remained subdued. There are currently only 11,500 vacancies for engineers of all types, a notable decrease from around 20,000 in 2022, with software developers accounting for 6,200 of these positions.
