Unemployment in Israel rose to 9 percent in the year 2000, reported Haaretz newspaper, quoting figures by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Last year's rate was 0.1 percent lower than in 1999, but because of a growing work force, the number of people out of work actually increased by 2.5 percent, said the paper.
Unemployment is particularly high among women, said the paper, adding that 9.2 percent were without jobs compared to 8.4 percent of men.
At the end of 2000, the national work force was 2.458 million people and the population of those 15 years and older was 4.532 million.
The work force was made up of 54.2 percent of Israelis 15 years and older.
There are many reasons for Israel's high unemployment and low labor force participation rates, said an earlier report by The Jerusalem Post newspaper.
These include, according to the Post, persistently high real interest rates, the structural evolution of the economy, and a set of bizarre government policies - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
