'Increase in aliya among youth and academic professionals'

Increasing numbers of new immigrants arrive to Israel from all over the world, Central Bureau of Statistics finds.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Updated: MAY 25, 2016 23:46
59 lone soldiers make Aliyah on the August 17 Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah flight from New York (photo credit: SHAHAR AZRAN)
59 lone soldiers make Aliyah on the August 17 Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah flight from New York
(photo credit: SHAHAR AZRAN)
This past year saw an increase in immigration to Israel among young people and academic professionals.
According to the findings of the report the Central Bureau of Statistics released on Wednesday, in 2015 there were 27,908 immigrants to Israel, a 16 percent increase from the previous year.
Since the establishment of the State some 3.2 million people have made aliya, 42% since 1990.
Of 2015’s olim, the majority, 53%, or some 14,725 people arrived from the former Soviet Union, especially from Ukraine and Russia. In addition, 24%, or some 6,628 people, arrived from France and an additional 9% from the United States.
This past year saw a dramatic increase of some 20% in comparison to 2014 with regards to new immigrants from Ukraine and 44% increase in the number of immigrants from Russia.
With regards to immigration from France, following a sharp rise in the number of French people moving to Israel in 2014, immigration only increased by 1% in 2015.
In contrast, the number of Ethiopian olim drastically decreased by 57% in 2015 compared to the previous year.
This year also saw more youth making aliya to Israel with 19% of immigrants aged 14 and under, compared to 16.3% last year. There was also a decrease in the number of those aged 65 and older making aliya from 18% in 2014 down to 14% this past year.
As such, the findings indicated that in 2015 the median age of a new immigrant stood at 32.9 years old compared to 36.3 years in 2014.
Once in Israel the new immigrants were attracted mostly to the Center. Tel Aviv absorbed some 12% of the immigrants, followed by Jerusalem and Netanya, each absorbing 11%. Haifa absorbed 8% and Ashdod absorbed 6% of the olim.
With regards to education, the data revealed that in 2015, 65% of immigrants aged 15 and above had 13 years of schooling, down from 67% in 2014.
Furthermore the report found 67% of immigrants were academic professionals prior to making aliya, compared to 27.8% in 2014. Of these professionals, 43% were in legal, cultural or social professions, 26% were in the sciences and engineering and 10% were in the field of health.