According to by Israeli Advanced Technology Industries (AITI), the number of Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) studying tech-related subjects, working in the sector, or starting their own companies is on a rise.
The rise in the number of Haredi tech employees goes hand in hand with a growing number of Haredi students in universities and colleges majoring in tech-related subjects. In 2014, 1,050 Haredi students studied tech-related subjects, amounting to 3.8% of students in the field, compared to 1,417 and 4.1% in 2019. This represents a 35% increase in the number of Haredi tech students.
When taking into account the number of graduates the leap is far more significant. According to the report, in 2008, only 19 ultra-Orthodox Jews graduated from an academic institution with a degree in a tech-related subject. This number multiplied by more than 11 in 2019, with 216 graduates.
In recent years, more and more Haredi women have entered the workforce, with 76% of working-age Haredi women employed in 2018, a slightly higher rate than 74.2% among the non-Haredi population. The number of employed ultra-Orthodox men, on the other hand, was just 51.7%, compared with 86.9% among the general population.
As of 2019, 71% of Haredi tech employees, 6,900, were women, compared to just 2,800 men. Of the total number of ultra-Orthodox female employees, 5% work in tech, slightly lower than 6.5% among non-Haredi women. Among Haredi men that are employed, just 3.6% work in tech, compared to 10.4% in the general population.