MAHAT Graduates Enjoy 24% Wage Premium Five Years After Studies, Study Shows
A new study reveals that graduates of MAHAT technological programs achieve a 24% wage premium five years after graduation, outperforming some academic degrees.
A new study by the Ministry of Labor and the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute reveals that graduates of MAHAT-supervised technological programs enjoy a wage premium of approximately 24% five years after graduation.
Comprehensive Empirical Research on Technological Education
The Government Institute for Technological and Science Training (MAHAT) trains roughly 10,000 practical engineers annually across 74 colleges nationwide. Authored by Oren Tirosh, Guy Yohi Harpez, and Hadas Fox, the research provides a broad empirical foundation based on administrative data from the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Labor.
The findings show that the overall return on MAHAT studies reaches 24% five years post-graduation, following a steady upward trajectory in the early years. Even after 11 years, the positive wage return remains solid at about 16%.
High-Yield Tracks and Evolving Market Demands
The academic year for MAHAT technological colleges kicked off with some 40,000 students enrolled in approximately 20 high-demand technological tracks. Artificial intelligence trends are reshaping the job market, driving up vacancies for practical engineers while dampening demand for certain software roles.
"MAHAT studies represent a direct pathway connecting quality professional training with the economy's needs, ensuring real employment opportunities," stated Ministry of Labor CEO Rubi Shemesh.
The top-performing tracks in terms of wage returns include:
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Software Engineering: 56%
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Civil Engineering: 31%
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Mechanical Engineering: 23%
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Electrical Engineering: 19%
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Electronics Engineering: 19%
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Water Technologies: 18%
Demographic Variations and Future Outlook
The study highlights that returns vary across genders and population groups. For instance, ultra-Orthodox Jewish women showed exceptionally high returns in software engineering, while ultra-Orthodox men excelled in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
