The number of requests for workers at the Israel National Employment Service reached an all-time high of 25,300 in August 2009. The number of unemployed fell by 0.1% to 211,600.
The number of layoffs per month has eased since January: down 23% from 19,700 in January to 15,100 in August. The number of layoffs peaked at 19,900 in March.
Employment Service director general Yossi Farhi said, "Analysis of the layoff, newly unemployed, and unemployment numbers for August points to signs of economic recovery. All the figures indicate a decline. The number of newly unemployed fell from 24,000 at the beginning of the year to 22,000 in August, in trend figures."
Farhi cautioned, however, "It is premature to assess whether this is a turnaround in the unemployment figures."
In original data - that is, figures not adjusted for seasonal factors, effects of holidays, and actual number of work days in a month - the number of jobseekers rose to 236,900 in August 2009 from 198,000 in August 2008, and 236,400 in July 2009.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 21, 2009
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