Israel Faces Significant Labor Shortages With 143,000 Job Vacancies
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israel's job market saw a rise in vacancies to 143,700 in the second quarter of 2026, indicating increased demand for workers. The ratio of job seekers to openings tightened overall, but severe shortages exist in sales and cleaning, while many seek jobs in management and administrative roles. Vacancies increased for academic professionals and in industry, while decreasing for clerical positions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's job vacancies climbed to 143,700 in Q2 2026, up from 136,200 in Q1.
- The ratio of job seekers to openings fell to 1.8, indicating a tighter labor market.
- Severe shortages exist in sales and cleaning, with at least two jobs per seeker.
- Many job seekers compete for limited openings in management and administrative roles.
- Vacancies increased for academic professionals, industry, and construction workers.
Israel's economy experienced a notable increase in job vacancies during the second quarter of 2026, reaching 143,700, up from 136,200 in the previous quarter, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). This rise indicates growing demand for workers, though significant disparities persist across different professions.
The ratio of job seekers to available positions, a key indicator of labor market balance, decreased from 1.9 in the first quarter to 1.8 in the second. For most occupations, this ratio also fell from 1.6 to 1.5. This suggests a tightening labor market overall.
However, the data highlights extreme imbalances. In sectors like sales, cleaning, and assistance, the ratio was 0.5 or lower, meaning there were at least two job openings for every job seeker. Conversely, in fields such as production management, professional services, business and administration, and secretarial roles, the ratio exceeded 3.5, indicating more than seven job seekers for every two vacancies.
Within the management category, the highest demand in the second quarter was in hospitality, commerce, and other services (42%), followed by production and professional services management (23%). The number of vacancies for professionals with academic backgrounds rose to an average of 24,500 per month, up from 22,800 in the first quarter, with software developers experiencing a shortage of workers relative to openings. Similarly, vacancies for engineers, technicians, and related professions increased to 10,900 from 9,900.
In contrast, vacancies for general clerks and office workers decreased to 9,500 from 10,200. The number of openings in sales and services rose to 41,100 from 38,400, and in industry and construction to 33,100 from 30,800. Vacancies for unskilled workers also saw a slight increase, from 16,600 to 17,100.