Survey: Employers discriminate against Arabs

The findings of the study, commissioned by the Economy Ministry’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, show that 42 percent of employers “would prefer not to” hire Arab men, while 37% said they were disinclined to employ Haredi men. Prejudice levels against both Arab and ultra-Orthodox mothers of young children were high as well, though lower than toward men, at 41% and 27% respectively. “The survey data raises difficult questions regarding public attitudes in general and employers’ attitudes in particular toward employees from different communities,” Commissioner Tziona Koenig-Yair wrote in a statement.

Arab construction workers in Tel-Aviv, Habima project (Photo: Moran Beth Halachmi)

Arab construction workers in Tel-Aviv, Habima project (Photo: Moran Beth Halachmi)

The results of the study were based on 500 Jewish employers, the majority of which hold higher degrees. Despite their education, “in evaluating whether to hire Arabs or Haredim they relied on prejudice and stereotypes,” Koenig-Yair wrote. In addition to appraising hiring practices, the survey found that among both employers and employees, 46% expressed reluctance to work with an Arab male; 30% said they had reservations with regard to working alongside an ultra-Orthodox male; and 28% were resistant to working with an Arab woman.