Not a flood, but rather a shortage: The Israeli economy is still waiting for foreign workers

The article refutes the claim of a flood of foreign workers in Israel, presenting a picture of a real labor shortage. The author notes that a plan to increase worker quotas by 50,000 is delayed, highlighting the gap between approved quotas and actual worker absorption, while calling for responsible management of the shortage.

The article refutes the claim of a 'flood' of foreign workers in Israel, presenting a picture of a real labor shortage. The author, attorney Shir Sela, notes that a plan to increase foreign worker quotas by 50,000 – 20,000 for construction, 15,000 for the metro, and 15,000 for industry and commerce – is delayed due to a budget transfer of 10 million shekels to the Population Authority. She emphasizes that these are planned and approved quotas, not workers who have already arrived. The article points to the gap between need and response, referencing the metro project that requires about 16,000 foreign workers at peak execution. It further argues that foreign workers do not displace local workers, but fill a void created by the cessation of Palestinian worker entry after October 7. The author calls for a policy combining supervised entry of foreign workers with investment in training and improving working conditions.