Number of employed persons in Israel 2023, by industry

Israel's employment landscape in 2023 reveals education as a leading sector, employing over 540,000 people. This prominence in education aligns with the country's projected growth in student enrollment, expected to double by 2060. The health and social work sector follows closely, employing just over 500,000 Israelis, reflecting the nation's expansive healthcare system and mandatory insurance policy.

Labor force participation and unemployment trends

The strong employment figures in education and healthcare are part of a broader trend in Israel's labor market. In 2023, labor force participation reached approximately 67 percent for men and 60 percent for women aged 15 and older. Concurrently, the country experienced a decrease in unemployment, reaching its lowest rate in recent years. This positive trend extended to youth unemployment, which also declined by 0.7 percentage points compared to the previous year.

High-tech sector hiring slows

While education and healthcare dominate employment figures, Israel's important technology industry continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace. In 2023, the sector added about 10,000 workers, reaching nearly 400,000 employees. However, this represented a significant drop in new hiring compared to the previous year. Factors such as a slowing of global venture capital markets and a controversial government-led judicial reform impacted the industry's expansion.