Tel Aviv is entering the final quarter of 2026 with a strong hiring outlook. The city’s net employment outlook stands at 42%, compared with 58% in Israel’s Central region. Haifa recorded a minus 1% outlook after a 15-point quarterly decline.
The figures come from ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey for the fourth quarter of 2026. The net employment outlook is the share of employers planning to expand their workforce minus the share expecting to reduce it.
Israel’s national outlook reaches a five-year high
Nationwide, Israel’s net employment outlook reached 34%, up 8 points from the previous quarter and 16 points year over year. Some 49% of Israeli employers plan to add staff during the quarter, while 15% expect to reduce headcount. The global average is 29%, and Israel ranks fourth worldwide for annual improvement.
Construction, trade and tourism lead hiring demand
Construction and real estate recorded the strongest outlook at 64%. Logistics and trade followed at 51%, while hospitality and tourism reached 40%. Hospitality and tourism also posted the sharpest quarterly improvement, rising by 34 points.
Employers show more interest in entry-level hiring
Some 44% of Israeli employers said they are more willing to recruit entry-level employees than they were a year ago. At the same time, artificial intelligence and automation continue to reduce some junior tasks and entry-level roles. Only 30% of employers said AI-based screening tools had shortened their recruitment process.
Regional gaps remain part of the picture
Dror Litvak, CEO of ManpowerGroup Israel, said:
Our findings for the fourth quarter clearly reflect the resilience of the Israeli economy and the fact that many employers have moved from restraint and waiting to developing growth engines and expanding their workforce. The sharp rise in construction and infrastructure, alongside the recovery in trade and tourism, shows that organizations in Israel are actively preparing to accelerate business activity. However, the picture is not uniform, and our main challenge today lies in narrowing geographic gaps and preparing human capital for a changing world of work. The adoption of artificial intelligence tools is changing job requirements at every level, and companies’ ability to adapt their training and onboarding tracks will be key to continued sustainable growth.
The survey is based on interviews with 39,878 employers in 42 countries, including Israel. ManpowerGroup has conducted it since 1962.
