Employment in Jerusalem

Local Economy

Tourism is a huge industry in Jerusalem, but the city’s economy is starting to diversify. The Har Hotzvim industrial park has attracted some huge names such as ECI Telecom and Intel, who have established regional headquarters.

Jerusalem has always been renowned as an educational center, and many expats find work at one of the many international schools, religious colleges and world class universities.

Since Jerusalem is the administrative capital of Israel, the government is a big employer, while many foreign governments hold offices, embassies and consulates in and around the city, employing a large number of expats.

Due to the protected status of the city, the only sector that really lags behind is construction and building. However, this sector thrives elsewhere in Israel – particularly around the coastal areas, which are always popular with holidaymakers.

Jobs in Jerusalem

The Israeli government has some stringent guidelines on who can apply for work visas, but leniency is shown towards members of the clergy, students, experts in any field and artists. Anyone who can prove their Jewish ancestry is entitled to live and work anywhere in Israel under special immigration laws called ‘aliya’.

For local job listings, read newspapers such as Bonus, Jerusalem Newspaper, Jerusalem Christian Review, The Whole City and All the Time. There are a lot of employment agencies across the city, offering full and part time work in a variety of sectors. Try Janglo Job Center, Israemploy, and JobNet, for example.

Income Taxation in Jerusalem

Every Israeli resident is obliged to file a tax return, although some expats may be eligible for an exemption. If, for instance, all your income arrived from a foreign source (either in the form of a pension or as a salary), you may qualify for an exemption. However, there are exemptions to these exemptions, so it is advisable to contact an accountant in order to clarify your position.

According to the Israeli Tax Authority the basic rate of income tax is 10%, and this covers anything from 1 ILS to 63,360 ILS (16,413.50 USD) per year, after which it reaches 14% (until 108,102 ILS), then 21% (up to 168,000 ILS), 31% (to 240,000 ILS), 34% (to 501,960 ILS), 48% (to 811,560 ILS) and finally 50% on anything higher.