Tech and Admin Job Seekers Surge in Israel Despite Stable Totals
A September 2026 report shows Israeli job seekers returned to pre-war levels at 162,000, though high-tech and academic unemployment rose significantly.
The number of job seekers in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector surged by 59.3% over three years, while administrative, sales, and marketing roles saw a 29.5% increase, according to the Employment Service’s "Labor Market Pulse" report for September 2026. However, the total number of job seekers has returned to pre-war levels.
Changes in Workforce Composition
In September, approximately 162,000 job seekers were registered with the Employment Service, matching the figure from September 2023. Following seasonal summer increases, the total count dropped by about 10.5 thousand, or 6.1%, compared to August. Despite overall stability, the composition of job seekers has shifted, with more highly educated and experienced professionals seeking assistance.
Compared to September 2023, prominent increases occurred in ICT, administration, sales, and marketing. Moderate rises were also recorded in health, law, social sciences, culture, science, engineering, and professional services. While these fields are exposed to artificial intelligence advancements, the Employment Service notes that this structural shift began as early as 2022, prior to widespread public AI adoption.
Demographic Shifts and Regional Trends
"The changes are not uniform across professions; we must move from a general discussion about the future of the labor market to a precise understanding of the shifts in each occupation," said Employment Service CEO Inbal Mashash.
Academic job seekers receiving unemployment benefits rose from approximately 37.6 thousand in September 2023 to 41.9 thousand in September 2026. Meanwhile, declines were noted among general clerks, typists, sales workers, and construction workers.
Geographically, sharp drops in job seeker counts from August were recorded in ultra-Orthodox cities: Modi'in Illit saw a 32.2% decline, Beitar Illit dropped 30%, El'ad fell 28.9%, and Bnei Brak decreased by 27.4%. Conversely, Herzliya registered a 3.1% increase.
