The number of legal foreign workers fell 26.4% in January-September 2003 to 65,700 in September, from 89,300 in December 2002, a decline of 23,600 people. The number of legal foreign workers has fallen 33%, or 32,100 people, since January 2002.
The greatest decline was in the construction industry, in which the number of legal foreign workers fell 44% in January-September to 14,100 in September, from 24,500 in December 2002, a decline of 10,400 workers. The number of legal foreign workers in construction has fallen 60%, or 21,100 workers since January 2002.
The number of legal foreign workers in business services fell 43% in January-September to 8,700 in September, from 15,200 in December 2002, a decline of 6,500 workers. The number of legal foreign workers in business services has fallen 49%, or 8,100 workers since January 2002.
The number of legal foreign workers in agriculture fell 9% in January-September to 22,000 in September, from 24,400 in December 2002, a decline of 2,400 workers.
The average wage of legal foreign workers has fallen 5% within a year, due to the recession and decline in the number of legal foreign workers. The average gross salary of a foreign worker was NIS 3,981 in September 2003, down from NIS 4,190 in September 2002, a decline of NIS 290.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on December 18, 2003