Trained American Workers Have Good Prospects for Jobs in Israel

Most professionally trained Americans seeking jobs in Israel find employment there or have very good prospects for jobs once they complete basic Hebrew language courses, according to a report issued here today by the PATWA Office of the Jewish Agency, which assists American professionals and trained workers interested in permanent or temporary employment in Israel.

The report said that 102 Americans went to Israel between October, 1954 and September, 1955, to fill or seek jobs there. Of 88 Americans representing a wide variety of professions, about half had definite job commitments in Israel before they left the United States. Of the remainder, 27 persons enrolled in “Ulpanim,” intensive six-month Hebrew language courses conducted by the Jewish Agency in or near Jerusalem. Others entered the Hebrew University or took professional qualification courses in Israel. By and large, they have good prospects for employment.

“While knowledge of Hebrew is not essential for all jobs in Israel, a good grounding in the language is a decided advantage,” the PATWA report said. It revealed that the Americans who went to Israel for jobs during the last twelve months included 22 married couples with 21 children. Among the married couples, many of the wives are professionally trained, but all of them do not intend to seek employment, the report stated.

Engineers, 14 in number, comprised the largest single American professional group, followed by 13 teachers. Other professional categories represented were secretaries and other office workers, nurses, architects, town planners, laboratory technicians, psychologists, social workers, dentists, dental assistants, accountants and agriculturists.