The number of people out of work for at least a year rose sharply over the past two years, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.

By the end of last year, the long-term jobless figure had risen to 139,000, compared with 91,000 at the end of 2009. Last year, one in three unemployed had been out of work for at least 12 months, compared with one in five two years previously.
Some 50% of the over 45s were out of work for more than a year, as were 39% of the low-skilled.