New Report Reveals Severe War Impact on Young Israelis' Futures
A new Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute report reveals that three years of war have severely impacted young Israelis, with over 35% delaying or canceling studies and 61% facing employment disruptions.
A special report on the situation of young people in Israel following three years of war reveals severe damage to their lives, plans, and ability to build their future. According to the study by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, prepared by researchers Berchi Ben Simon and Dr. Vyacheslav Konstantinov, 35.9% of young adults have postponed or abandoned their studies due to the conflict. Furthermore, 42.2% of those already studying reported either temporarily stopping their education (37.5%) or dropping out entirely (4.7%).
Impact on Employment and Finances
The survey, conducted at the end of June 2026 among 835 young people aged 18 to 34 representing a cross-section of Israeli society, highlights deep economic vulnerability. The employment of 61% of respondents was interrupted during the war due to layoffs or unpaid leave. Among them, 46.5% experienced job interruption more than once, reflecting the heavy exposure of youth to service and retail sectors requiring physical presence, such as hospitality and security.
"War is a factor that can disrupt resource accumulation processes, return young people to family dependency, and harm their well-being," explained researchers Ben Simon and Konstantinov.
Financial strain is widespread, with 51.7% of respondents stating that the war has impaired their ability to meet current financial obligations, such as rent and utility bills. Among reservists, 29.5% reported delaying the start of their studies, compared to 17.7% of other respondents, a trend closely linked to an average of 170 reserve duty days per year.
Psychological and Social Toll
Beyond economic and academic setbacks, the prolonged conflict has taken a significant psychological toll. Among military reservists, 42.4% reported facing emotional difficulties, 21.9% noted social challenges, and 20.6% reported marital or family struggles. Only 35.1% indicated that they experienced no difficulties at all. The cumulative nature of the crisis underscores growing concerns over a lost generation as Israel navigates the ongoing socioeconomic fallout of Operation Swords of Iron.
