In its report published today (1404/10/17), the economic newspaper Calcalist announced that the youth unemployment rate in the Zionist regime among the 18–24 age group has reached 12.3 percent. Based on newly released data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) of the Zionist regime, this figure represents a 2.5 percent increase compared to the previous quarter. Economic experts have described this trend as a “youth generation crisis.”
The main reason for this rise is the closure of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the tourism, retail, and services sectors. Recent security tensions in the southern and northern areas of the Zionist regime have led to the temporary shutdown of hundreds of companies, limiting job opportunities for recent graduates. For example, in cities such as Ashkelon and Safed, more than 30 percent of service-sector jobs have been shut down.
The Ministry of Labor of the Zionist regime reported that more than 45,000 young people joined the ranks of the unemployed over the past month. Government vocational training programs, such as “Young Force,” currently cover only 20 percent of actual needs. Prominent economist Professor Oyeil Amroz from Tel Aviv University warned in an interview with Calcalist: “If the defense budget continues to increase, investment in education and youth employment will be the first casualty.”
Meanwhile, the technology sector—usually considered a safe haven for young workers—is facing a shortage of foreign investment, with its hiring rate standing at only 65 percent. Student unions have called for emergency subsidies and mandatory internship programs. The Netanyahu government has pledged to allocate 2 billion shekels to a youth employment fund, but critics argue that the amount is insufficient.
This crisis has not only affected household incomes but has also increased youth migration abroad by 15 percent. Calcalist predicts that without immediate intervention, the unemployment rate could reach 15 percent by the end of the year, posing long-term challenges for the economy of the Zionist regime.
