Solving the haredi employment problem in Israel - opinion

• Published date: 21 March 2024
• Author: YEHUDIT MILETZKY
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The foreseeable economic challenge has become even greater in light of the notification by Moody's, the credit rating company, of a downgrade in Israel's credit rating to 2A, for the first time ever, as well as the downgrading of Israel's rating forecast to "negative."

In this situation, the public money that belongs to all of us is an expensive and vital resource, which must produce the maximum yield, so that we might witness economic rehabilitation and renewed growth in the Israeli economy and its society. We must rethink every initiative, plan or process that relies on that money, and understand how these resources can be channeled for more significant, optimal impact.

Social and government initiatives aimed at integrating special population groups into the Israeli labor market are among the critical tools for navigating the entire economy towards regrowth during times of crisis. In the case of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) society, it is going to be necessary to refresh the currently existing toolbox in the context of these kinds of initiatives, and to pinpoint the responses at a much higher resolution.

Integrating haredi society into the workforce

Efforts to integrate haredi society into the workforce have been taking place on the ground for some time, but the complex reality remains: The labor and wage indicators of haredi men and women have remained almost unchanged, while a reserve of unrealized potential remains concealed beneath the surface.

Studies that we have conducted at the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs have continuously demonstrated a higher-than-expected level of willingness among haredim to integrate into the labor market, as well as a strong motivation among those who do work to acquire the skills that are necessary to improve the quality of their employment. So why don't we see any change in the numbers?

THERE ARE immense differences within haredi society due to it being composed of various sub-groups and communities that have different ideologies and characteristics, and different approaches to education, scholarship and employment.

These differences also stem from the variety of social mechanisms that operate differently in various haredi groups – which, along with the special gender-related characteristics of haredi society, give rise to differences in the nature and character of the integration of haredim into the workforce.

These differences are so large and significant that they require us to rethink any actions that might be...