Haredi High-Tech Growth Driven Almost Entirely by Women Amid Male Participation Stagnation

A new comprehensive study titled "The Haredi High-Tech Report 2026" reveals a significant gender gap in the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) high-tech sector in Israel. While employment among Haredi women in high-tech surged by 77% over the past decade, male participation has remained nearly stagnant, increasing only slightly from 0.9% to 1.1%. The research was conducted by Dr. Nahomi Yaffe, Moshe Friedman, and PhD candidate Chaya Lerfeld, highlighting deep structural barriers preventing Haredi men from entering this key economic growth sector.

The report, a joint initiative by the TATIA Foundation, Tel Aviv University, and Kama-Tech, was presented to President Isaac Herzog during a special event marking Kama-Tech’s tenth anniversary. Moshe Friedman, CEO of Kama-Tech, emphasized the inspirational role of women in the industry, noting that 6% of the high-tech workforce are Haredi women and that nearly every Haredi household has at least one woman working in high-tech. He pointed out that ongoing controversies around military conscription for Haredi men discourage them from pursuing professional training, despite successful Haredi military tracks.

Key obstacles for men include lack of core education and digital literacy at a young age, delayed workforce entry due to prolonged religious study, absence of professional networks, and employer biases. The researchers warn that integrating the Haredi sector into high-tech is not merely a social goal but an urgent macroeconomic necessity, as the industry accounts for approximately 19.7% of Israel’s GDP.

Despite male stagnation, the overall number of Haredi employees in high-tech rose from about 8,500 in 2016 to 12,750 in 2024, representing nearly 5% of the Haredi workforce. Among young adults aged 25-35, high-tech employment jumped from 2% to 6% in ten years, driven mainly by women. Academic enrollment in high-tech fields among Haredim increased by 45% between 2018 and 2021, with women comprising 67% of the 14,700 students. However, the report highlights a stark wage gap of roughly 57% between Haredi and non-Haredi workers, with Haredi women earning an average of 93 shekels per hour due to concentration in peripheral roles.

On a positive note, entrepreneurship is growing, with about 200 Haredi startups launched in the past decade, accounting for 5%-9% of innovation authority grant applications. Dr. Yaffe noted the clear progress of the Haredi population, especially women, who increasingly value high-tech employment despite limited access to core development roles.