The Young Voice: What Issues Are Truly Burning for the Next Generation?

The cost of living, the economic crisis, and the future in Israel are becoming the central issues occupying the young generation ahead of the elections. Initial findings from the annual student survey for 2026, obtained by Walla, indicate that 68% of students say the cost of living and the economic situation will be the primary factor determining their vote in the upcoming elections.

Alongside this, the survey points to a significant crisis of trust in the political system: 61% of students believe the current government does not care about their interests. The data paints a picture of a generation that feels it is carrying a heavy burden without receiving a sufficient response from the state.

Economic distress is evident in almost every aspect of students’ lives. According to the survey, 66% are unable to save money regularly, while 68% report that the cost of living causes them significant anxiety or stress. For many, academic studies are accompanied by ongoing economic uncertainty, making it difficult to plan for the future.

Military service and reserve duty continue to leave a deep mark on the student body. Among students serving in the reserves, 65% report feeling frustration, burnout, or anger to a large extent, primarily due to a sense of inequality regarding the burden of service.

More than a quarter of students are considering leaving the country

One of the most alarming figures in the survey concerns the future of young people in Israel: 28% of students are already considering moving to another country after completing their studies. Among those considering leaving, 79% cite the cost of living as a primary reason. This figure adds to growing warnings that educated young people may prefer to build their future outside Israel if there is no change in economic and social policy.

Against the backdrop of these findings, the National Union of Students is expected to approach the heads of all parties in the coming days, demanding a commitment to adopt the “National Program for Israel’s Youth” — a policy document intended to place the needs of the young generation at the center of the next government’s agenda.

The Union requests that the program be anchored in party platforms and subsequent coalition agreements, based on the belief that youth issues can no longer be handled only in a piecemeal fashion.

The document, prepared based on the survey findings, states that young people in Israel have “carried the state on their shoulders” in recent years — through reserve service, volunteering, studies, and work — and that it is now time for the state to invest in them in return.

The National Program for Israel’s Youth

The Union warns that if the state does not provide youth with a real horizon, it may lose an entire generation of educated professionals.

The program presents five central goals:

1. Fighting the cost of living and expanding housing solutions for young people.

2. Strengthening the connection between higher education and the labor market.

3. Expanding responses in the field of mental health.

4. Providing a broader framework of support for reservists.

5. Ensuring meaningful representation of young people in the country’s decision-making centers.

In addition, the Union calls for the establishment of a “Cabinet for the Affairs of the Future Generation,” a permanent government body headed by the Prime Minister, which would coordinate youth-related issues ranging from housing and the cost of living to education, employment, and mental health. The purpose of this body would be to coordinate between government ministries, set measurable targets, and ensure that policy toward the young generation is implemented over time.