Why did women make up many new teachers in Israel after 1948?

Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, the nation faced a significant shortage of educated labor while simultaneously attempting to build a modern economy from a small base. This economic environment created a high demand for educated men in more prestigious professional sectors, making it difficult for the state to recruit them into the teaching profession.1

Consequently, the vast majority of new teachers were women. This trend was further reinforced by the country's military position after 1967, which continued to complicate the recruitment of male teachers. As a result, the proportion of male teachers in elementary and secondary schools declined steadily, dropping from 49 percent in 1948 to approximately 20 percent by 1980. To address these staffing challenges, the government implemented various measures, including generous scholarship and loan programs for prospective teachers that required a commitment to teach for at least five years.1