Survey shows most families need two earners

CBS said that of the male participants over age 60, just 8% who earn less than NIS 7,500 per month (gross) were interested in retiring at 65, while 42% of those earning more considered it an option.

By AVI KRAWITZ
Just 13 percent of Israelis believe it is sufficient for one member of the family to work, a survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics on public attitudes towards employment revealed. Of those who felt that one bread winner was sufficient, 71% said the male partner should be the one working and 24% said they were indifferent to who works. While 24% of the Arab population said one worker was enough, within the Jewish public there was disparity between communities as 40% of haredim, 18% of religious, 6% of traditional and 9% of secular Jews said a second earner was unnecessary. The 2005 survey, in its fourth year, interviewed 7,500 people over age 20 in the work force, representing a sample of the 4.3 million citizens in that population group. The results showed that 56% believe workers should not be obligated to retire at a specified age. More women, 59% of whom, felt the retirement age was constricting than men, of which 54% said the same. Just 40% of respondents believe the retirement age of men and women should be the same with the attitude that women should retire earlier. CBS said that of the male participants over age 60, just 8% who earn less than NIS 7,500 per month (gross) were interested in retiring at 65, while 42% of those earning more considered it an option. Among women with children below age five, 69% said the reason they were not working was to look after the children, while 49% expressed no interest in working and 22% of those who did work said their income did not cover their child care expenses. Of the women with children below five who work part-time, 71% said they do so in order to care for their children, while 52% with children between six and 17, gave the same reason for their part-time employment. Asked whether they believe their army service influenced their chances of finding an appropriate job, nearly two-thirds of respondents said that was the case, while 32% said not at all or only slightly. More influential to work seekers, according to the survey, was academic achievement as 75% said they felt their education gave them an advantage in the job market, while 21% disagreed.