Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 2.8% in May 2026 from a revised 3.0% in the previous month. Meanwhile, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 2.9% from 2.8% in April. Based on seasonally adjusted data, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 4,200 to 128,100. At the same time, the labor force participation rate inched up to 61.9% from 61.6%, pointing to a modest increase in workforce activity, while the employment rate also improved slightly to 60.1% from 59.9%. source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel

Unemployment Rate in Israel decreased to 2.80 percent in May from 3 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Israel averaged 5.73 percent from 1992 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.40 percent in March of 1992 and a record low of 2.60 percent in August of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - Israel Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Israel Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Israel decreased to 2.80 percent in May from 3 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Israel is expected to be 3.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Israel Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 3.20 percent in 2027 and 3.10 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-18 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 2.9% 2.8% 2.9%
2026-06-15 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
May 2.8% 3.0% 2.9%
2026-07-27 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 2.8% 3.0%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 4337.00 4356.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Rate 60.10 59.90 percent May 2026
Job Vacancies 140923.00 134777.00 May 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 61.90 61.60 percent May 2026
Population 10.07 9.91 Million Dec 2024
Unemployed Persons 128.10 123.90 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 2.80 3.00 percent May 2026
Wages 15921.00 14291.00 ILS/Month Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 24844.00 20216.00 ILS/Month Mar 2026


Israel Unemployment Rate
In Israel, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.80 3.00 11.40 2.60 1992 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Israel Unemployment Rate Ticks Down to 2.8%
Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 2.8% in May 2026 from a revised 3.0% in the previous month. Meanwhile, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 2.9% from 2.8% in April. Based on seasonally adjusted data, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 4,200 to 128,100. At the same time, the labor force participation rate inched up to 61.9% from 61.6%, pointing to a modest increase in workforce activity, while the employment rate also improved slightly to 60.1% from 59.9%.
2026-06-15
Israel Unemployment Rate at 3-Month High
Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 2.9% in April 2026 from 2.8% in the previous month, marking the highest level recorded since January. The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also rose to 2.8% from 2.5% in March. At the same time, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 10,000 to reach 123,900. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate inched up to 62% from 61.9%, indicating a slight increase in workforce activity, while the employment rate remained unchanged at 60.2% in April.
2026-05-18
Israel Unemployment Ticks Up to 2.8% in March
Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 2.8% in March 2026, up from an eight-month low of 2.7% in February. The non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate, however, fell to 2.5% from 2.6%, with the number of unemployed decreasing by 3,500 to 113,900. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate declined to 62.0% from 62.4%, signaling a modest reduction in workforce engagement. The employment rate also dropped to 60.2% from 60.8% in February.
2026-05-07