Unemployment

Israel registered 37% less unpaid leave applications than in previous Iran war, report reveals

In total, 7936 people registered for unemployment since the war began, of whom 55% are women, Employment Service revealed on Sunday. Of this group, 54% are mothers of underage children.

Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market bustles as the war in Iran rages, March 5, 2026
Gen Z.

‘Horrific signal’: Young job seekers are arriving with parents to job interviews

Job seeking Israeli numbers drop in January, 2026.

Number of Israeli job seekers fell in January 2026 amid tight labor market

Artificial Intelligence.

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A third of Israel's job seekers have been unemployed more than a year

The economic safety net plan that went into effect last year when the coronavirus pandemic started had provided job seekers with unemployment benefits through the end of June.

FILE PHOTO: People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020

Israel's new unemployment plan: No benefits for under age 28

Under the new model, job seekers people will be given a maximum number of days they can receive unemployment benefits, based on their age and number of dependents.

FILE PHOTO: People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020

Jerusalem businesses still struggling to hire workers

Restaurants and other businesses with low-skilled workers are having trouble hiring because the government's coronavirus safety net promises job seekers up to 70% of their original.

Customers sit at a cafe  in Jerusalem after it was reopened on March 7, 2021

Israel's unemployment rate falls to 7.9% as country emerges from COVID-19

That figure includes people on temporary leave from their place of work due to the pandemic.

FILE PHOTO: People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020

One in two people globally lost income due to the pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis has hit workers across the world; about 1.7 billion adults globally said they temporarily stopped working at their job or business due to the pandemic.

FILE PHOTO: People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020

Israel's new unemployment plan takes COVID-19 into account

Speaking to 103FM Radio on Monday, the head of the National Insurance Institute detailed the new plan to assist those still unemployed starting from June.

FILE PHOTO: People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020

Remote work will bring more ultra-Orthodox to hi-tech - survey

The shift is heartening for a sector that is suffering from a shortage of good talent.

An ultra-Orthodox man wearing a mask walks around the neighborhood of Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, April 12, 2020

Unemployment in Israel drops below 10% for first time since pandemic

If unemployment drops below 10%, benefits will be reduced by 10% – and if the rate drops below 7.5%, the program will be canceled completely.

FILE PHOTO: People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment benefits, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Arkansas Workforce Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. April 6, 2020

Public companies save 8% of payment costs due to unpaid leave - report

According to the report's authors, this shows that the unpaid leave model was ineffective at what it set out to do.

Illustrative photo of Israeli money

COVID-19: What happens when Israel's unpaid leave program ends June 30?

As of this week, more than 547,000 people are still out of work according to Israel Employment Services, a bit less than 10%, despite the reopening of the economy.

Illustrative photo of Israeli money