Young Haredi Workforce Triples in Israeli High-Tech Sector Over Decade

A new comprehensive report titled "The Haredi High-Tech Report 2026," produced by Tel Aviv University, the TUTIA Foundation, and Kama-Tech, reveals a significant rise in the participation of young Haredi Jews in Israel's high-tech industry. Over the past decade, the proportion of Haredi individuals aged 25-35 working in high-tech has tripled from about 2% to approximately 6%, with total Haredi employment in the sector increasing from around 8,500 in 2016 to 12,750 in 2024. This growth coincides with the high-tech sector's contribution of nearly 19.7% to Israel's GDP.

The report highlights that this integration is predominantly driven by Haredi women, whose employment rate in high-tech rose by 77% from 3.1% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2023, exceeding natural population growth by 23%. Similarly, the number of Haredi students in high-tech academic programs surged by about 45% between 2018 and 2021, with women comprising 67% of these students. Technological engineering studies also saw a 37% increase. Conversely, Haredi men’s participation in high-tech remains almost stagnant, increasing only slightly from 0.9% to 1.1% over the decade.

Despite these advances, the report exposes persistent challenges, including a substantial wage gap of approximately 57% between Haredi and non-Haredi high-tech workers. In 2019, Haredi women earned an average of 93 shekels per hour, often occupying peripheral roles such as quality assurance, technical support, or outsourcing rather than core development positions. Barriers to fuller integration include limited early education in core subjects and digital literacy, delayed workforce entry due to extended religious study among men, lack of professional networks, soft skills gaps, and employer biases.

Dr. Nahomi Yaffe of Tel Aviv University emphasized the importance of this research in shedding light on the unique challenges and progress of integrating the Haredi community into Israel’s key economic sector. The report was presented to President Isaac Herzog during an event marking a decade of Kama-Tech’s activity, underscoring the integration of Haredim in high-tech as not only a social goal but also a macroeconomic necessity. Over the last ten years, around 200 Haredi startups have been established, with Haredi entrepreneurs accounting for 5-9% of innovation grant applications to the Israel Innovation Authority.

Moshe Friedman, CEO of Kama-Tech, noted the organization's decade-long efforts to support Haredim in training and employment within the high-tech industry, working closely with both the Haredi community and major tech companies. While progress is evident, Friedman acknowledged that there remains room for improvement to overcome existing obstacles and expand Haredi participation further.