Survey: Jerusalem enjoys economic boost, happiest residents

Just a couple of years ago, Jews were fleeing from the city for lack of jobs and affordable housing. Now they are the happiest in the Nation even with their economic condition. Wonderful. Ted Belman

YNET NEWS

Jerusalemites are, on the whole, happier than the residents of other Israeli cities, as thousands of jobs are being created in the capital increasingly defined by its religious majority, according to a survey published Tuesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

The data, made public before the 46th Jerusalem Day, finds the city enjoying a positive economic momentum. The year 2012 saw some 17,000 new jobs created in the capital, in addition to approximately 30,000 jobs created between 2009 and 2007, meaning that in the course of the last four years Jerusalemites were offered some 50,000 new working positions.

Another clause simply shows Jerusalemites to be pleased with the city of their dwelling – more so than their compatriots living in other Israeli urban centers. An impressive 88% of Jerusalemites said they are happy with their city, which is two percent higher than Tel Avivians, 4% higher than in Haifa and six percent higher than in Ashdod.

Fifty-nine percent of Jerusalem’s residents said they were happy with their economic condition, while the average in other cities stands at 55%. Additionally, an increasing amount of residents say they were happy with the cleanness in the city, and the amount of parks and green areas Jerusalem has to offer.

Jerusalem is the largest urban center in Israel both in terms of geography and number of residents. It is home to some 800,000 people, some 500,000 of whom are Jews.

The majority of the Jews in the city define themselves as religious to varying degrees. 32% defined themselves as haredi (compared to an average 8% in other big Israeli cities), 21% as religious, 26% as traditional and 19% as secular.

In addition to all the other positives, Jerusalem’s net migration rate shows a positive value, meaning more people enter the city than leave it; the new trend is a welcome departure from the norm for a city that has been plagued by negative migration.

According to the statistics bureau, it is most likely accounted for by the growing popularity of the capital among haredi and religious youths.

May 7, 2013 | Comments »

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