Israel Report Finds 71.3% of Women Repeatedly Pushed Out of Work During Crises
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 22
Israel Report Finds 71.3% of Women Repeatedly Pushed Out of Work During Crises
1 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 22
Summary
71.3% of women pushed out of Israel’s workforce during the 2026 Iran War had already been displaced in at least one other crisis over the past six years, according to a new Employment Service report.
The report calls the pattern a “revolving door”: half of those women were hit in at least three emergency events, while more than a third were pushed out in four or more.
78% of personal caregivers and 75% of sales workers who registered as job seekers during the Iran War had also done so in earlier crises, with face-to-face, outdoor and public-facing jobs most exposed.
395,600 job seekers were recorded in March 2026, up 154% from February, but the total fell 54% to about 180,000 by end-May, underscoring faster labor-market recovery even as the same workers keep absorbing the shocks.
The Employment Service urged changes to unpaid leave rules, including flexible partial-work arrangements, shared leave between spouses and broader remote-work options to protect vulnerable workers in future emergencies.
Does Israel's rapid economic recovery from war come at the cost of its most vulnerable workers?
Could the US-Iran peace talks finally break Israel’s cycle of recurring worker displacement?
As Israel debates worker protections, what becomes of migrant laborers caught in the same regional conflicts?
Employment Instability in Israel 2026: The Widening "Revolving Door" and Its Impact on Women
Overview
The 2026 Iran War triggered a widespread employment crisis in Israel, known as the "revolving door" phenomenon, where people repeatedly lose and regain jobs, leading to unstable incomes. This crisis, once limited to vulnerable groups, now affects high-income earners as well, with income losses among them rising sharply after the conflict. The instability is rooted in deeper structural issues, especially for women, who face repeated job loss due to their roles in crisis-sensitive sectors and traditional family responsibilities. These challenges highlight the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms to build a more resilient and equitable labor market.