Billions Invested in Haredi Employment Yield Stagnant, Declining Results
Translated & summarized from TheMarker by baba
The Israeli government has invested over 3.17 billion shekels in the last decade to boost Haredi men's employment, but the rate has stagnated and declined. Despite increased budgets since 2023, funds are reportedly misdirected to sectoral benefits instead of job promotion. Senior figures claim the investment has failed to meet government employment targets.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel invested over 3.17 billion shekels in a decade to boost Haredi men's employment.
- The employment rate for Haredi men has stagnated and declined despite the investment.
- Budgets for Haredi employment programs have reportedly doubled since 2023.
- Funds may have been used for sectoral benefits instead of direct job promotion, according to insiders.
- The investment has failed to meet government targets for Haredi male employment.
Despite significant government investment exceeding 3.17 billion shekels over the past decade in programs aimed at integrating the Haredi community into the workforce, including vocational training and higher education access, the employment rate for Haredi men has remained stagnant and even seen a decline. Budgets allocated by the Council for Higher Education (Vatat) and the Ministry of Labor for Haredi employment initiatives have reportedly doubled since 2023, yet these funds are alleged by senior figures involved in the field to have been used for sectoral benefits rather than direct employment promotion. The stated goal of these programs was to increase the participation of Haredi men in the labor market, but the actual employment rate remains far from government targets.
