Job Seekers Rise Slightly in October Amid Shifting Labor Market
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
Approximately 162,300 job seekers were registered in Israel in October, a slight increase from September, though a decrease when adjusted for seasonal trends. The labor market shows a growing gap between job seeker skills and employer needs, with a shortage in industry and construction but increased competition for academic roles. Technological professions saw a 60% rise in job seekers since 2023, and unemployment benefit usage is also up, indicating longer job searches.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- 162,300 job seekers registered in October, a 0.2% rise from September.
- Technological job seekers increased 60% since 2023.
- Academic jobs have 0.7 openings per seeker, while industry/construction has 3.4.
- Unemployment benefit claims rose to 122,200 in October 2026.
- Long-term unemployment claims fell to 33,800.
- Job seekers from higher socioeconomic groups increased.
In October, approximately 162,300 job seekers were registered with employment offices, a marginal 0.2% increase from September, according to the Employment Service. However, after accounting for seasonal trends, there was a 2.3% decrease in registrations. The number of job seekers in technological professions has surged by about 60% since 2023, while academic professions show only 0.7 available positions per job seeker.
Compared to September 2023, the total number of registered job seekers remained nearly unchanged, but their composition shifted. Unemployment benefit claims rose from about 111,200 to 122,200 in October 2026, while income support claims, indicating long-term unemployment, dropped from around 48,000 to 33,800. Over the past three years, the proportion of job seekers from higher socioeconomic clusters (8-10) increased from 17.5% to 21.8%, while those from lower clusters (1-3) decreased from 39.8% to 34.9%. This indicates a trend of more "stronger" workers entering unemployment.
In the skilled trades, industry, and construction sectors, the ratio of available jobs to job seekers rose from 1.8 to 3.4 over the last three years. Conversely, for academic professions, this ratio declined from 0.8 to 0.7, suggesting increased competition for academic roles and a shortage of workers in industry and construction.
Nationally, in September 2026, there were about 148,000 open positions versus 169,000 registered job seekers, equating to roughly 88 open positions per 100 job seekers. The number of job seekers in technology fields grew by approximately 60% since September 2023, from about 5,600 to 8,900 in October 2026.
The report also noted an increase in the utilization of unemployment benefit days compared to 2022. For academic professionals, the average utilization rose from about 125 to 131 days out of a maximum of 175. For sales and service workers, it increased from 70.1 to 77.8 days out of 100. For engineers and technicians, it rose from 46 to 52.3 days out of 67. This rise may indicate longer job search periods and difficulties matching job seekers with available positions due to skill gaps, geographical mismatches, or unsuitable employment conditions.
Einbal Meshsh, Director General of the Employment Service, stated that while October data shows some stabilization, the core challenge is the widening gap between job seekers' skills and employers' needs. She highlighted the shortage in industry and construction, increased competition for academic jobs, and the rise in tech job seekers. Meshsh added that the increased use of unemployment benefits signals a more complex and prolonged return to employment for some segments of the population.
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