A majority of Israeli high-tech employers are continuing to recruit during the ongoing war, despite operational disruption from reserve duty and emergency family routines, according to data released by the tech recruitment firm GotFriends. The firm said its review covered more than 500 companies with active job openings and found that hiring has not stopped but has become more selective and cautious.
GotFriends reported that about 50% of companies are hiring almost as usual, 35% are accelerating recruitment, and roughly 15% have temporarily paused hiring processes. The company said the pause is typically driven by operational constraints rather than a lack of need, indicating that these companies still require staff but are facing challenges such as budget limitations or resource shortages that prevent immediate hiring.
Temporary pauses are often operational, not strategic
Among firms that paused recruitment, GotFriends said the main reasons included managers and recruiting teams being called up for reserve duty and difficulties maintaining routine while managing family responsibilities. In many cases, the company said, the slowdown is expected to be temporary and roles may reopen once staffing and schedules stabilize.
In companies hiring close to normal levels, GotFriends said job openings remain active and interviews continue, but hiring decisions are often focused on the strongest candidates. Some employers are prioritizing applicants already in process before the war escalated, while being more cautious about launching brand-new searches.
The survey found that a sizable group of employers, including many startups, are accelerating recruitment. GotFriends attributed the pace-up to tighter prioritization, fewer non-urgent meetings, and the ability to run interviews remotely, including over Zoom, even when managers and candidates are in different parts of the country.
Candidates are still interviewing, despite disruptions
On the candidate side, GotFriends estimated that around 20% of job seekers have paused their search temporarily, mainly due to reserve duty or heavy family demands. Still, the firm said most candidates continue interviewing, particularly those affected by layoffs or those seeking a change who feel delays more acutely.
Uncertainty, according to GotFriends CEO Shiri Vax, can give the impression that the market is stagnant, but the data indicates continuous movement. “Most companies are still hiring during wartime, just in a more focused and careful way,” she said, adding that roles and interview processes are continuing, “only at a different pace and with slightly different methods.”