Most Haredim Want Secular Higher Education

Most

Charedim

Want

Secular

Higher

Education

Of the 53% who that said they were interested:

63% female vs 41% males

59% Chassidim vs 42% Lithuanian

Does this Survey Reflect a Change in the Status-Quo?

According to Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry data, 49.1% of haredi women of working age participate in the labor market, higher than the 37.4% rate for haredi men aged 20 to 64, but lower than secular women's at 70%, and secular men's at 79.9%.

In the years 2002-2007, the average size of the haredi population was 637,000, 8.8% of the total population. There were 233,000 haredim aged 20 to 64, including 118,000 men. Some 12.4% of haredim had at least a bachelor's degree, compared with 37.2% of the secular and traditional population. In addition, 19.9% of haredim served in the army, compared with 72.2% of the secular and traditional population.

The average monthly salary of haredi women was NIS 3,690, 40% lower than that of haredi men (NIS 6,123). The average salary of secular women was NIS 5,698, 36% lower than that of secular men (NIS 8,955). Haredi women earned 35% less than secular women, while haredi men earned 30% less than secular men.

"A lot of the tension and polarity in our society is a direct result of the fact that the haredi population does not integrate into the labor force," said Shay Cohen, CEO of Chakima.

"There is no doubt that as soon as they start to join the workforce, with all the implications of such as move, barriers that separate between people will fall."

Ben-Eliezer wants to adapt Haredi Employment Center Nationwide … Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer plans to adapt Modi'in Illit's employment-center model to the rest of the country in an effort to bring thousands of haredim into the workplace. Industry, Trade and Labor Minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, his deputy minister, Orit Noked and Modi'in Illit Mayor Ya'acov Gutterman visit a training center for haredim in Modi'in Illit.
Photo Courtesy of the ITLM