Women in Israel: Work less, study more
Photo: Visual Photos
Survey: More women than ever hold managerial posts
Statistics Bureau reports Israeli women constitute majority of BA students but earn less than men
The average Israeli woman lives to age 83, gives birth to three children, and makes a third less than the average man, according to data published Thursday by the Central Statistics Bureau in honor of International Women's Day, to be celebrated on May 8.
The bureau found that in the past year women have climbed further up the corporate ladder, with the percentage holding managerial positions having nearly doubled itself since 1990.
More on Women
15 of 18 Arab countries record increase in women suffrage, literacy. Kuwait, Algeria, Jordan lead transformation while Yemen, Iraq, Palestinian territories show decline in women's rights over past five years
The number of women who work while attending an institute of higher education also rose significantly in the past decade, from 39% to 48%.
However the differences in salaries remain similar despite the progress made by women in the workforce. In 2008 the average male monthly salary was $2,548, while the female average was just $1,609 – 37% less.
One explanation is that women tend to work shorter hours than men, but hourly rates were also compared and found to be different, with women making 27% less than men per hour on average.
The bureau's data also shows that 152,500 women gave birth in 2008, and around 11% of all pregnancies were aborted. Israeli women give birth to three children on average and live to the age of 83, while the average life expectancy for men is 79 years.
The bureau found that of all women aged 20-45 who worked and gave birth, around 25% stopped working, while just 1% of men stopped working due to a new baby. Sixteen percent of women lessened their work hours after giving birth, while just 3% of men were found to have done the same.
However the number of women studying for their bachelor's degree is steadily rising, with numbers reaching 55% of all students in 2008. Fifty-eight percent of all students studying for a master's degree are women, as well as 52% of those in the process of acquiring doctorates.
Women are present in the highest percentage in Education studies – 86%, as well as nursing – 81%. However in the fields of architecture and engineering their numbers are lowest – just 27%.
