Israel Job Seekers Hold at 169,000, Still 8% Above Pre-War Level
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 19
Israel Job Seekers Hold at 169,000, Still 8% Above Pre-War Level
2 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 19
Summary
169,000 Israelis were registered as job seekers at the end of June, down 57% from the Operation Roaring Lion peak but still above June 2023 levels, underscoring an incomplete labor-market recovery.
Seasonally adjusted figures showed a slight monthly rise to nearly 179,000 from about 177,000 in May, while officials said some June registrations may reflect retroactive unpaid-leave claims rather than active unemployment.
127,000 unemployment-benefit claimants fell 8% in a month and 63% from the wartime high, while income-support claimants slipped only 2% to 35,800.
Workers under 34 posted the fastest improvement, with job seekers down about 10%, and the biggest occupational drops came in in-person sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and childcare.
July and August are expected to bring a seasonal uptick in job seekers, even as the Employment Service pushes vocational training and AI upskilling to speed reintegration.