Demand for high-tech workers down sharply

Demand in July was down 13.5% compared with July 2005.

by Shay Niv 
Globes
August 7, 2006

The war in the north is affecting Israel’s high-tech industry. 
The Manpower Israel index of demand for high-tech workers, 
published today, indicates a 12.7% plunge in demand in 
July 2006, compared with June, and a 13.5% drop compared 
with July 2005. 

Manpower Information Technologies CEO Irit Padan said the 
drop in demand for high-tech workers indicated a change in 
trend, after a period of modest growth in demand. “The sharp 
drop can be attributed to the general impact of the war in the 
north on economic activity,” she said. Despite growth since the 
beginning of the year, demand for workers fell moderately during 
the preceding three months, before slumping in July. 

The sharpest drop in demand in July was for team and project 
leaders, down 31.7% compared with June. Demand for software 
engineers fell 17.7%, network managers and support staff - 15.5%; 
hardware engineers - 9.7%; programmers - 6.9%; and hiring 
through placement agencies - 12.1%. Only demand senior 
high-tech managers was unchanged, compared with June.