Employment of Arab Men: Transition Programs from High School to Further Education and Employment

During the two years prior to COVID-19 crisis there had been a significant drop in the employment rates of Arab men in Israel, particularly among the young and uneducated. This was caused, among other things, by automation processes taking place in the industrial sector and the consequent dismissal of workers with lower skills, along with an increase in the number of foreign workers in the construction sector. The decline in employment among young men has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in the numbers of idle individuals – those who are disconnected from any formal framework of work or study. Apart from the direct negative impact on growth and productivity, the decrease in employment and the increase in idleness among young Arab men have had a direct effect on their involvement in crime and on the troubling rise in violence in Israel's Arab society. During the roundtable discussion we will present data, quantitative assessments, and a detailed work plan outlining policy recommendations based on the following principles: setting up vocational diagnosis and guidance units in Arab schools, tasked with diagnosing the abilities and skills of young people towards the end of their high-school years, and counselling them on their options in the employment market or further education. In addition, we will discuss policy recommendations regarding vocational training, with the aim of matching workers' skills and proficiencies to the ongoing changes in the world of employment, as well as the issue of foreign workers.

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