As is the case in other countries, the hard times do not seem to be a thing of the past just yet in Eretz Yisrael, with national employment officials reporting 231,200 people turned to them seeking jobs in June compared to the previous month, recording 229,600. This represents a 0.8% increase in unemployment.

It is also being reported that 33% of the nation’s unemployed accrued over 270 days of unemployment during the past 12 months, numbering 76,300 of the total unemployed. 

The average number of newly-unemployment per month in the second quarter of 2009 is 14,400, compared to 19,200 in the first quarter. This may be compared to an average monthly figure of 11,600 in the years 2007 and 2008.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)