Israeli Labor Report Shows Stagnant Employment Among Ultra-Orthodox Men Amid High Demand for Workers
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
By צלי גרינברג
First reported by Maariv · Jul 9, 2026
What happened
Israel’s 2025 labor report shows a historic low unemployment rate amid high job vacancies but reveals stagnant employment among ultra-Orthodox men and declines in northern communities affected by conflict. The high-tech sector grows, driven by AI-related roles, while foreign worker quotas ease labor shortages but raise concerns. The government’s employment targets face challenges due to persistent low participation in some groups.
- 01Israel’s unemployment rate dropped to about 3.5% in 2025, a historic low.
- 02Employment fell notably among young adults and northern border residents after recent conflicts.
- 03Ultra-Orthodox men’s employment stagnated around 53% over the past decade, below government targets.
- 04High-tech sector employment grew 2.3%, with rising demand for AI and data specialists.
- 05Foreign worker quotas expanded to 230,000, easing shortages but raising local employment concerns.
- 06Real wages rose only 0.3%, mainly due to public sector wage declines and low-paying industries.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 2 outlets
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