Last update - 00:00 19/06/2007
Data: Unemployment rate stagnates despite continuous market growth
By Moti Bassok, Haaretz Correspondent
The unemployment rate has remained unchanged over the last four months despite sustained growth in the Israeli market, according to data published by the Central Statistics Bureau on Tuesday.
Some 7.9 percent of the work force, or 224,400 people, were without jobs in the month of April 2007.
While the number of unemployed has gradually decreased since 2005 when it stood at 9 percent, it seems less new jobs have been generated in recent months.
However, according to Bank of Israel predictions the unemployment rate at the end of 2007 will be 7.5 percent, 0.4 percent less than the current rate.