An analysis of Central Bureau of Statistics data by the Manufacturers Association of Israel found that job losses in manufacturing increased in June-July 2012. 2,300 manufacturing employees lost their jobs in these two months, mostly in the food, rubber and plastics, and printing industries. The number of job vacancies fell by 17.2% in this period.
The Manufacturers Association said today that the latest figures indicate that the job losses continued in August and September, which it attributed to falling demand caused by the global economic slowdown and rising prices of production inputs.
"These layoffs are the direct result of the deteriorating business environment in Israel, reflected in the steady rise in prices for inputs, such as arnona (local property tax), water, and energy, increased regulation, and the lack of protection for manufacturers from unfair trade, combined with the economic slowdown, which is hurting the target markets of Israeli manufacturers," said Manufacturers Assocaition president Amir Hayek.
Manufacturers Association Economics Division director Ruby Ginel said that 770 people were fired in June and July in the metal products industry, 380 people were fired in the food industry, and 300 were fired in the rubber and plastics industry. He said that, since 2010, the printing industry has fired 1,300 employees. During the summer, there were also layoffs in the textiles and clothing, wood and furniture, machinery, and paper industries.
At the same time, however, the basic metals, electrical products, electronic components, and the mining and quarrying industries have increased their pace of hiring.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 24, 2012
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