Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel
Israel: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 3.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel, 1973–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel is 3.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and down 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel peaked at 13.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1973.
That places Israel 129th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 2.4% | — |
| 1974 | 2.4% | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 2.5% | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 3.1% | +26.0% |
| 1977 | 3.3% | +6.6% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | -12.6% |
| 1979 | 2.4% | -16.9% |
| 1980 | 4.1% | +73.3% |
| 1981 | 4.3% | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 4.4% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 4.0% | -8.9% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | +30.1% |
| 1985 | 6.2% | +19.9% |
| 1986 | 6.5% | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | -21.6% |
| 1988 | 5.6% | +9.5% |
| 1989 | 7.8% | +38.6% |
| 1990 | 8.4% | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 8.6% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 9.2% | +7.2% |
| 1993 | 8.5% | -7.6% |
| 1994 | 6.2% | -27.5% |
| 1995 | 7.3% | +18.6% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 8.9% | +17.9% |
| 1998 | 10.4% | +17.1% |
| 1999 | 10.9% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 11.1% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 11.6% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 13.0% | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 12.4% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 11.1% | -10.6% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 9.0% | -13.5% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -15.9% |
| 2009 | 9.8% | +29.9% |
| 2010 | 8.9% | -9.2% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | -18.3% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 5.8% | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -12.4% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -11.9% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | +19.9% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | +12.4% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -22.2% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 3.0% | -14.7% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | +2.7% |
Israel compared with similar countries
- Israel's 3.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 63% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Israel's 3.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.8%, 53% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.4% | 3.3% | 7 |
| 1980s | 5.3% | 4.0% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 6.2% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 7.6% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 3.6% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 3.0% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Israel
- 126 Cayman Islands 3.3% compare
- 127 Singapore 3.2% compare
- 128 Malta 3.1% compare
- 130 Kyrgyzstan 3.0% compare
- 131 Dominican Republic 3.0% compare
- 132 Isle of Man 3.0% compare
More work & labour data for Israel
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4851 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5042 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 11,997 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 579.95 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,762 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,985 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 19,747 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Israel was 3.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Israel?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Israel?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1973.
- How does Israel rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Israel ranks 129th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Israel?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Israel data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.