Israeli employment rates dropped in May, Central Bureau of Statistics labor force survey reveals

Israel's employment rate saw a marginal decline in May 2026, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The overall employment rate for the population over 15 dropped from 60.1% in April to 59.9% in May. This slight decrease reflects a broader trend in the labor market, impacting both male and female employment rates.

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Israel's employment rate dropped in May, from 60.1% of the over-15 population employed in April to 59.9%, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) revealed last month.

The CBS Labor Force Survey indicated that out of 4,469,000 Israelis considered in the workforce (61.6% of the relevant population), 126,500 individuals, or 2.8%, were unemployed. The employment rate for men fell from 64.9% to 64.6%, while for women, it decreased from 59.1% to 58.7%.

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The employment rate declined for both men (from 64.9% to 64.6%) and women (from 59.1% to 58.7%), the data revealed.

Regional variations in unemployment were noted, with the Jerusalem district experiencing the highest unemployment rate, which rose from 3.4% in April to 4.1% in May. In contrast, the Tel Aviv and central Israel regions reported the lowest unemployment rates, standing at 2.4% each in May, down from 2.7% and 2.6% respectively in the previous month. Despite the overall dip in employment, the proportion of Israelis working full-time, defined as 35 or more hours per week, saw a slight increase from 78.6% in April to 79.1% in May.

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The district with the highest unemployment rate was the Jerusalem district, CBS said, with the rate rising from 3.4% in April to 4.1% in May.

This data follows a report from January indicating a significant rise in job vacancies in December 2025, which reached 152,134, the highest number recorded since November 2022. The current figures suggest a shift in the labor market dynamics, with a slight increase in unemployment in certain areas, though full-time employment shows a modest gain.

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Conversely, the districts with the lowest unemployment rates were Tel Aviv and central Israel, with each at 2.4% in May (down from 2.7% and 2.6%, respectively, in April).