23% of reservists are not working at all, neither as employees nor as self-employed, according to data from the National Insurance Institute of Israel published on the occasion of Reservists Appreciation Week.
57% of reservists are salaried employees, 10% are both salaried employees and self-employed, and 10% are self-employed only.
Since October 2023, 20% of reservists have served more than 300 days of reserve duty, 27% have served between 150 and 300 days, and 19% have served fewer than 30 days.
Among reservists who are not working at all, neither as employees nor self-employed, 78% are aged 20–30, 14% are aged 30–40, and 5% are aged 40–50.
Among salaried reservists, 19% served more than 300 days, and 27% served between 150 and 300 days. Among salaried reservists aged 20–30, 36% served more than 300 days, and half served between 150 and 300 days. Among salaried reservists aged 30–40, 37% served more than 300 days, and one third served between 150 and 300 days.
Among reservists who are self-employed, 28% served more than 300 days, and 23% served between 150 and 300 days. Here too, younger age groups served the highest number of days. Among self-employed reservists aged 20–30, 27% served more than 300 days and 41% served between 150 and 300 days. Among self-employed reservists aged 30–40, 34% served more than 300 days, and an additional 31% served between 150 and 300 days.
78% of reservists are men and 22% are women. More than half of reservists (54%) are aged 20–30, and the median age of reservists is 29. 54% of reservists are single and 42% are married. Among reservists aged 20–30, 82% are single.
29% of reservists are from the central region, 16% from the Tel Aviv area, 11% from Haifa, 14% from the north, 15% from the south, 7% from Jerusalem, and 7% from the West Bank.
The National Insurance Institute of Israel noted that since October 2023, reserve-duty allowances have been paid monthly rather than only at the end of service, a first since the establishment of the state.
“In these days dedicated to appreciating reservists, it is important for us to strengthen their contribution, employees, self-employed, from the central district, Jerusalem, and the north, who leave everything behind in order to safeguard Israel’s security,” the institution said. “The National Insurance Institute has established a dedicated hotline for reservists to help them exercise their rights. There is no doubt that legislative changes in favor of reservists must be consistently monitored and advanced, and we will continue to do so until all reservists return home safely.”
