The Israeli labor market is showing a steady recovery from the impact of the fighting, but the latest data make it clear that a full return to pre–war levels remains a distant goal. Figures released today (Sunday) by the Employment Service reveal that the number of job seekers in Israel stood at approximately 169,000 at the end of June. While this represents a drop of about 227,000 people (57%) from the peak unemployment recorded during Operation Roaring Lion, the broader picture is far more complex: The current number of job seekers is still roughly 8% higher than in June 2023, prior to the outbreak of the war.
Seasonally adjusted data present a stable outlook, though they point to a minor increase in job seekers, rising from roughly 177,000 in May to nearly 179,000 in June. Compared to the pre–war period, this leaves a negative gap of about 15% – a clear sign that the economic recovery process is far from complete.
The Employment Service is trying to help job seekers reintegrate into the market
"The data point to a continued return to routine in the labor market, but also teach us that the current routine is not identical to the one that preceded the war. Alongside the significant decrease in the number of job seekers, we identify a change in the composition of the population remaining outside the labor market," explained Employment Service Director-General Inbal Mashash. She noted that to help these individuals reintegrate into the workforce, the service is placing a major emphasis on vocational training and upskilling, including artificial intelligence (AI) proficiency.
A deeper analysis of the figures shows that the most significant decline occurred among unemployment benefit claimants, whose numbers fell by roughly 8% in a single month to 127,000 – a 63% plunge from the height of the military operation. In contrast, income support claimants saw a far more modest decline of about 2%, numbering 35,800. The Employment Service noted that this is one of the lowest figures ever recorded in this category.
June's recovery was particularly evident among younger workers under the age of 34, a demographic where the number of job seekers plummeted by approximately 10%. By comparison, those aged 35–54 saw a more moderate decline of 6%, while the figure fell by just 3% for those aged 55 and over. The Employment Service attributed this disparity to the fact that young people are heavily represented in sectors hardest hit by wartime restrictions – such as commerce, services, and roles requiring a physical presence – meaning their return to the workforce was accelerated once these limitations were lifted.
The sharpest drops in the number of job seekers were recorded among gardeners and crop growers
Sector–specific data clearly illustrate this trend: The sharpest drops in job seekers were recorded among gardeners and crop growers (about 80%), waiters and bartenders (about 78%), child caretakers and teachers' aides (about 77%), and sports and fitness workers (about 64%). Conversely, high-tech professions that accommodate remote work – such as software developers and data or network personnel – experienced only minor decreases ranging between 4% and 6%.
Simultaneously, a shift was observed across socio–economic demographics: The proportion of job seekers originating from stronger socio–economic clusters (8–10) rose to 20.6%, while the share from weaker clusters (1–3) dropped to 36.8%. Employment Service officials explained that this directly continues a pre–operation trend they describe as "the weakening of the strong, the strengthening of the weak."
Despite the official optimism, the Employment Service cautioned that July and August are expected to bring a temporary spike in job seekers due to seasonal summer layoffs, which predominantly affect women. However, officials noted that some individuals registered in June may have already returned to work, having signed up retroactively purely to claim unpaid leave benefits stemming from Operation Roaring Lion. Consequently, the actual number of unemployed individuals actively seeking work may be lower than the 169,000 threshold.