For the first time since the current economic crisis began, Israel’s unemployment level has dropped. The figures for August, which are the latest available, show a 7.6% unemployment rate – compared to nearly 10% in the United States.
In addition, the number of available jobs grew in September by 15%, to 49,400. Job availability has grown almost steadily since May, when it stood at 38,700. Some 2,100 positions were added in the construction field, 1,900 in education, and 1,200-1,300 in industry and business services.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said the new numbers are “encouraging” and “jibe with the positive market indications that we have been seeing over the past few months.” He said that Israel would continue to aggressively act to lower unemployment.
Minister Steinitz also noted that Israel’s exports rose 20%, on an annual basis, in the third quarter of this year.
In the United States, 263,000 jobs were lopped off in September, leading to the highest unemployment rates since 1983.