Construction and infrastructure trades — stable careers for men in the community

Employment data

CBS 2024: over 20% of Ethiopian-origin men work in construction, infrastructure, and renovation — the highest concentration of any sector.

Salary by trade (2026)

Electrician (licensed): ₪15,000–₪22,000 employed, up to ₪40,000 as contractor. Plumber: ₪12,000–₪18,000 employed, up to ₪35,000. HVAC tech: ₪13,000–₪20,000 employed, up to ₪38,000. Crane operator: ₪18,000–₪25,000.

Licensing

Electrician: 2-year ORT + 1-year apprenticeship + Ministry of Labour exam (~₪5,000–₪8,000, Employment Service subsidy possible). Plumber: 1-year ORT + 500-hour internship. Crane operator: 3–6 month course, Ministry of Transport.

ORT Israel training

Programmes in Netanya, Lod, Beersheba, Jerusalem. Employment Service subsidies available. ort.org.il.

Path from worker to contractor

Worker → qualified tradesperson (ORT cert) → sub-contractor (Housing Ministry Class-1 licence, up to ₪1.5M) → full contractor.