Globes quotes an Israel National Employment Service report according to which the number of unemployed in Israel reached 216,000 in September 2009, 0.5% more than in August. The pace of increase in unemployment levels slowed from an average of 1.9% per month between August 2008 and June 2009.

15,716 employees lost their jobs in September, as compared to 15,120 employees in August. 55% of the redundancies were women, and 45% were men. 6,093 of the redundant employees were aged 25-34.

226,500 jobseekers applied to the Employment Service in September, a decrease from 236,000 in August.

Globes quotes Employment Service Director General Yossi Farhi: "Analysis of the figures for jobseekers, the newly unemployed, and layoffs in September indicates that the growth in unemployment is continuing to slow. September was also characterized by further involvement of the Employment Service in job placement, ranging from placing sales and service employees to skilled workers in manufacturing, people with higher degrees, and clerical staff, as well as free professionals and technicians. We placed an all-time record of 14,773 people during September, 5.5% more than the 14,000 people we placed in August."