According to statistics released by Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute) on Tuesday, the number of people receiving unemployment insurance during the first seven months of 2009 skyrocketed 60% as compared to the same time period a year earlier.

In 2008, an average of 45,000 people a month collected unemployment benefits as compared to 72,000 in 2009.  In addition, the number of persons classified as ‘unemployable’ increased 26% during the first half of 2008 as compared to a 32% increase in 2009.

Nationwide unemployment increased from 6% in the first half of 2008 to 7.8% to the first half of 2009. This represents an increase from 170,000 unemployed homes in 2008 to 224,000 in 2009.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)