Press Release

A Decline in the Number of Ultra-Orthodox Men in the Workforce

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For the first time since 2013- a decline in the number of ultra-Orthodox men in the workforce

New statistics released from CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics) revealed that for the first time since 2013 the upward trend of integration of ultra-Orthodox men into the workforce has stopped and we see a decline from 51.7% in 2016 to 50.3% in 2017.

According to Dr. Gilad Malach, "the main cause for this decrease is the subsidy package for Yeshiva students, which was promoted by the Haredi parties".

“These subsidies allow Haredi men to postpone entering employment”, explains Dr. Malach. “The subsidies include doubling yeshiva students' scholarships, increasing child allowances, granting a special allowance to yeshiva students whose wives do not work, and canceling the requirement that fathers must be employed in order to enjoy subsidized daycare centers for their children”.

At the same time, the government ministries are working, sometimes with the support of the same parties, on developing programs focused on integrating Haredim into the workforce, such as the ultra-Orthodox cadets' course for civil service that opened last week.

According to Malach “When the right hand helps to integrate Haredim into employment and the left hand causes them to remain in the yeshiva, the result is a standstill and even a decline in the rate of Haredi employees”.

The main cause for this decrease is the subsidy package for Yeshiva students, which was promoted by the Haredi parties.