Socioeconomic Mobility in Israel: At What Stage Do Gaps Between Population Groups Emerge?

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms of intergenerational mobility in Israel, with the aim of identifying the key barriers to equality of opportunity and providing data-driven policy recommendations. Using large-scale administrative data sourced from government agencies and made available through the research data center of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), the study follows the life trajectories of Israelis from childhood to adulthood. The analyses draw on extensive datasets encompassing up to approximately three million individuals, and shed light on how family background, group affiliation, and environmental factors shape social and economic outcomes.The analysis focuses on identifying critical turning points at which disparities emerge and widen ‒ from elementary education to entry into the labor market. By breaking down the gaps into their underlying components and comparing different population groups, the report reveals the distinct barriers faced by each group while also highlighting cross-cutting phenomena. Chief among these is the “gender paradox,” which demonstrates women’s advantages over men in educational and academic achievement as opposed to their comparatively lower economic returns in the labor market. The study provides a rich, data-driven mapping of mechanisms of inequality and key decision points over the life course. The aim is that the insights presented in this study will serve as a knowledge base and guiding framework for policymakers, supporting the development of targeted and effective solutions to advance equality of opportunity in Israeli society.

Citing suggestion: Heller, O., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2026). Socioeconomic mobility in Israel: at what stage do gaps between population groups emerge? RR-073-26. Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. (Hebrew)