1,500 Arab citizens to enter hi-tech sector

A tender put out by the Labor and Social Services Ministry on Thursday in both Hebrew and Arabic announces the investment of NIS 15 million over the course of five years to integrate some 1,500 Arab employees into the hi-tech sector.

“We want to see more and more young men and women from the Arab sector integrating into hi-tech industries,” Labor and Social Services Minister Haim Katz said in a statement. “This will contribute to their well-being and help narrow the gaps in Israeli society. We call upon businesses to join our efforts and offer training, placement and guidance services for students and academics from Arab society.”

Due to an ongoing shortage of workers within the hi-tech sector, this investment hopes to reach an untapped resource within Israel as a remedy as well as improve the economic prospects of Israel’s Arab population.

A statement released by the ministry explains the need for this program: “In recent years there has been a shortage in the hi-tech industry of skilled workers in the fields of computers and engineering. At the same time, there are many academics from the Arab sector who have completed their studies in these fields and find it difficult to find work in the hi-tech industry due to a variety of barriers.”

The services required in the tender include identifying and examining the manpower needs of the employers from the hi-tech sector and the training of Arab students and academics until they find work placement.

In addition, the investment will put significant emphasis on the integration of Arab women into the hi-tech sector as well as their professional development and advancement within the field.