Arabs Earn Less, Work More than Israeli Jews

Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(ISRAEL) – Despite working longer hours, Israeli Arabs earn less than their Jewish counterparts for the same work, according to data released by the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry and the Central Bureau of Statistics.

In 2007, Arab employees earned an average monthly gross wage of NIS (Israeli new shekel) 5,410 compared to the NIS 7,885 earned by Jewish employees, despite Arab men working 3.8 hours longer each week.

Arab households also earned less monthly, NIS 8,818 compared to the NIS 14,242 earned by Jewish households.

Although employment figures were about the same for men, only 22 percent of Israeli Arab women were employed in 2007, compared to 66.6 percent of Jewish women.

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