How olim can fit into Israel's changing economy, job market

2026-02-02 - 14:18

More North Americans made aliyah to Israel in 2025 than in any of the past four years. These olim include a growing proportion of young people, with the average age just 31. Many are moving to Israel because of a renewed sense of Zionism and solidarity following the war that started on Oct. 7, 2023, but their arrival brings much more than their ideals. Today's olim can help boost Israel's economy, filling crucial gaps in the workforce and contributing to Israel's culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. Their global professional experiences and perspectives, relatively young average age, and the willingness to be nimble and flexible, which often is part of an immigrant's mindset, are especially valuable at a time when Israel's economy, as well as the world of work, is rapidly changing. At the same time, the ways in which olim can contribute, and how they can find the best opportunities, is a complex and dynamic picture today. Israel's labor market is suffering from gaps in multiple categories, including essential fields like healthcare, construction, and engineering. Meanwhile, the way people work is changing. Artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping many roles, shrinking the need for some jobs and expanding the need for others. As a senior employment and workforce development expert who has advised olim in finding jobs for more than two decades, understanding how immigrants fit into these changes is crucial for their success and also for the future of the country. A changing high-tech sector One of the significant patterns I see is the shift away from the historically strong demand over the last two decades for English speakers to work in marketing and writing roles. Vacancies in those roles are not as numerous now. AI and automation can complete more tasks, a trend seen globally in the business world. In addition, Israel's tech sector, once a very reliable space for providing such jobs, faces challenges, like more volatile VC funding in recent years due to both global trends and the local geopolitical tensions and war. Amid this, the total number of jobs available in the sector fell for the first time in a decade in 2025, with the decline steepest in marketing, communications, and other roles not core to product development. In parallel, when it comes to the tech sector, demand remains strong for engineers, including in the cybersecurity sector. Deep tech computing skills, rather than entry-level software development experience, seem to help many immigrants get hired. These trends are not unique to Israel, but are playing out across the global tech sector, meaning that training and experience abroad are applicable and helpful in Israel as well. Sales positions as well continue to be in demand in the tech and other business sectors in Israel, according to recruiters who approach me, and recent data shows that 10% of all job vacancies nationwide are in sales. These jobs can be especially attractive and suitable for immigrants with English and other language skills, as the tech sector and other businesses aim to reach a global market. Finding opportunities in building, healthcare, and education Outside of the high-tech world, I see growing demand for employees in the building, healthcare, and education sectors, all fields essential to the future of economic and societal growth. With the right skills, guidance, and attitude, immigrants can help fill the gaps in these fields and will likely be crucial to doing so. When it comes to the building sector, the needs go beyond construction workers and building site managers, although I see many job listings daily for those. In addition, there is a strong demand for many of the roles related to the massive amount of construction going on in Israel, including property appraisers and interior designers. These are roles that one can seek training and certification for, making them good options for those seeking a career shift to a growing field. In the healthcare sector, nurses, doctors, dentists, therapists, and just about any other type of professional are in high demand in order to meet the growing needs of Israel's population. In fact, the International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP), a joint effort headed by Nefesh B'Nefesh in partnership with Israel's Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and the Jewish Agency for Israel expedites the license-certification process so that medical professionals can begin practicing shortly after their arrival as immigrants to Israel. As for education, native English is a skill constantly in demand. In addition to the need for English teachers in schools, there is a continuing need for English tutoring, for both children and adults. This is an example of a field in which someone can combine a salaried job with building their own income stream from independent work on the side. The need for English teaching and tutoring is especially acute in cities and communities without large Anglo populations, making these lucrative places for motivated English teachers. Like with many other fields, teaching English is a skill and career that one can, with training, pivot to from many different backgrounds. Fundraising: A rising field for a career pivot A flexible mindset, which is natural to many who immigrate, is especially important in today's job market. One area where I have seen more people pivoting to recently is non-profit fundraising, donor relations, and connected roles. Israel has one of the world's largest nonprofit sectors relative to population size, making up about 5% of annual gross domestic product. With nonprofits focused on a diverse variety of fields and causes, previous professional experience in the business or academic world can help prospective employees stand out to hiring managers. Many of the skills used in the business world, including sales and writing, are also crucial to non-profit organizations. These organizations also frequently have a need for native English speakers, as they work with networks of donors across the Jewish Diaspora and the world. Especially for olim arriving younger and planning on long careers in Israel, finding a field where they can grow and thrive is important. This often requires immigrants to ask "Where am I needed now?" Instead of focusing only on "What jobs here match my past?" For some, that means retraining. For others, it means shifting industries or building their own business. Employers in fields with shortages, as well as government officials, should also be paying closer attention to how olim can contribute and fill these gaps. Like the cooperation that has resulted in the programs to expedite the recognition of foreign healthcare credentials, additional partnerships between industries in need of employees and organizations that help immigrants would go a long way in helping both people and the economy. Rachel Berger is a senior employment and workforce development expert at Nefesh B'Nefesh, where she focuses on helping new immigrants integrate into Israel's economy and maximize their professional impact.