Israelis focused on the pandemic, politics and pop culture in a year like no other, searching online for information, solutions and distractions

Over 800,000 now jobless; number laid off has soared since start of lockdown; 80% of new applicants were also left jobless by 1st lockdown earlier this year

Economy could contract by 5.9%-7.2% this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic; ministry forecasts budget deficit of 13%-14.2% of GDP

Central Bureau of Statistics says in first half of June the official unemployment rate was 5.2%; national employment service puts number of jobless around 20%

Employment Service reports 1,593 newly unemployed since Thursday; data shows 847,968 people jobless, of whom 576,164 are on unpaid leave, with unemployment at 21%

Employment Service reports 10,193 went back to work over the past 24 hours, just 2,523 registered as job seekers