Israel 'sunemployment rate slipped to 6.5% in the first quarter of 2013 from 6.8% in the prior three months amid a rise in the number of those with jobs, the Central Bureau of Statistics says.
The number of employed rose to 3.415 million in the January-March period from 3.392 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, with 59.5% of those 15 and older having jobs, up from 59.4% in the fourth quarter, the bureau said.
The participation rate in the labor force of those 15 years old and above slipped to 63.7% from 63.8%.
The jobless rate for March was 6.5%, down from 6.6% in February.
Israel's economy in 2013 is expected to grow 2.8%, excluding the start to natural gas production, after growing 3.2% in 2012.