Israel

Education differentials

The percentages of women among university degree holders in various disciplines in 1997 gives information on the education status in terms of gender in Israel. Women received 56.6 percent of all university degrees in 1997.

Percentage of women among University Degree holders (1997)

(Subjects related to ICT are underlined)

Sources: UN/ECE database based on national sources; UNESCO Statistical Yearbook 1999

Labor-market participation by women

The unemployment rate in the country was 7.7 percent between 1994 and 1997.[1] The labor force participation rate was 37.4 percent in 1997 (ILO, 2001). Women's participation in the work force increased from 33.7 percent in 1980 to 44.2 percent in 1998.[2]

In 1998, 44.2 percent of the total workforce in Israel were women. Of clerical staff, 73.5 percent were women, and 59.3 percent of technicians were women. Women constituted 53.6 percent of workers in the service industry, 45.5 percent of professionals, and held about 22.4 percent of managerial positions (including legislators and senior government officials). Women also held 44.1 percent of unskilled occupations. Their share among skilled agricultural workers was 13.2 percent and was 11.0 percent among craft and trade workers.

Labor-market participation by women in ICT sector

According to 1997 figures from 194 firms, more than 51 percent of a total of over 14,300 employees in Israel's electronic component sector were women.

Government policy on ICTs

Israel's ICT policy has focused on telecommunication regulation, e-government, and innovative incubation schemes for start-ups.[3] In 2001, Israel's software exports reached $2.6 billion.[4] The education department had an ambitious program of school computerization. There are no specific mentions of gender concerns in ICT policy although the labor market participation by women in the electronics industry is high.

Conclusion

The ICT policy has emphasized growth of the ICT sector. The education policy has worked toward extensive computerization in schools. Labor-market participation by women is increasing in Israel. The high percentage of women at the university degree level (56.6 percent) is a contributing factor, as is the presence of women in ICT-related degree courses (47.6 percent) In 1997 women had 51 percent participation in the Israeli electronic component sector.[5] No data were available on women's participation in other ICT-related fields.

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