R&D employees in Israel see first-ever 1.1% decline in 2025

10 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · Apr 29

The number of R&D roles in Israel dropped by 1.1% in 2025, according to the Aaron Institute’s annual report, amid ongoing war and increasing overseas hiring.
This shift is partly offset by a 10% rise in product positions, while R&D still comprises 50% of high-tech jobs. Policymakers are urged to monitor for potential brain drain and weakening of Israel’s innovation center.
Despite the R&D decline, Israel’s high-tech sector broke records in exits, capital raising, and productivity, with high-tech jobs reaching 570,000 and accounting for 16.3% of the national workforce.

With record profits, why is Israel’s core R&D talent base shrinking for the first time ever?

How can Israel's tech sector sustain its global edge if its innovation engine is moving abroad?

Can Israel’s world-leading AI adoption truly replace its departing human innovators?

Is the R&D talent shift a brain drain crisis or a natural evolution for a global tech power?

As tech giants like Nvidia invest billions, why are local R&D jobs disappearing?