For the first time in 13 years, the number of unemployed Israelis has dropped below 200,000 people, constituting only 6.6% of the workforce. Some 44,000 people entered the work force over the last year, primarily due to rapid economic growth... According to Central Bureau of Statistics figures, the unemployment rate has been falling faster than expected, by a monthly rate of 0.1-0.2 percent a month...(israelnationalnews January 21, '08)

...The Bureau defines unemployed persons as citizens who are able and willing to work and are actively seeking employment through government employment bureau, manpower companies or independently, but who did not work for even one hour during the week of the survey... The data does therefore not include the majority of the country's destitute sectors - the chronically unemployed who are no longer looking for work, housewives and part-time employees. (ynet February 26,'07)

...70 percent of unemployed Israelis who were hired found only temporary jobs, mostly in the public sector, part-time work, and low-paying positions... (ynetnews)

700,000 jobs are part time or below minimum wage - unemployment 14% among those with only basic education (globes January, 08).

continue...