Summary Box: IMF Says More Israelis Must Work

CALL TO WORK: Israel’s long-term prosperity depends on getting more ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli Arabs to join the work force, the International Monetary Fund said in a report Monday.

DEMOGRAPHICS: The IMF study said the combined ultra-Orthodox and Israeli Arab populations could double over the next three decades, from a combined quarter of Israel’s population to half.

LOW WORK PARTICIPATION: For example, Arab-Israeli women have an employment rate of 20 percent and ultra-Orthodox men of 40 percent. The two groups are among the poorest and fastest growing in Israel.