Ultra-Orthodox Men's Employment Rises Amid Conscription Evasion Sanctions
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
The employment rate for ultra-Orthodox men in Israel reached 57% in Q3 2026, a 3-point rise since the start of the year. This increase is linked to economic sanctions against those evading military service, affecting their access to state benefits. The data, calculated with a new methodology since 2025, shows a sustained trend after a period of decline.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox men's employment hit 57% in Q3 2026, a 3-point increase since early 2026.
- Economic sanctions against draft evaders are cited as a reason for the employment rise.
- The previous employment record for this group was 56.7% in Q3 2023.
- New data methodology since 2025 requires caution when comparing with older employment figures.
- Employment for non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish men stood at 86.2% in Q3 2026.
The employment rate for ultra-Orthodox men reached 57% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. This marks a 3 percentage point increase since the beginning of the year, rising from 54% in the first quarter and 56.2% in the second. The previous record of 56.7% was set in the third quarter of 2023, followed by a decline to a low of 52.8% in the third quarter of 2025. For comparison, the employment rate among secular and non-ultra-Orthodox religious Jewish men was 86.2% in the third quarter of 2026. Between 2003 and 2016, the employment rate for ultra-Orthodox men grew from 37% to 52%, remaining relatively stable for the next decade. The current growth for two consecutive quarters suggests a sustained trend. However, since 2025, data has been calculated using a new methodology based on the 2022 census, which has increased the reported employment rate for ultra-Orthodox men by 1 to 1.6 percentage points, necessitating caution when comparing with older figures. The rise in employment within this sector is attributed to economic sanctions imposed on those evading mandatory military service, including the denial of access to government and municipal subsidies and benefits.
