Growth Rate and Israel

Israel: Karnit Flug spoke Monday, a day after Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics announced that Israel's growth rate for the second half of 2013 was 2.8 per cent -- down from a 3.8 per cent rate the previous year, according to CTV. Arabs make up about 20 per cent of Israel's 8 million citizens. The ultra-Orthodox are less than 10 per cent. Both are among the fastest growing segments of society and - Israel's central bank chief says demographic changes such as aging and the larger proportion of Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews in society threaten the country's long-term growth prospects. She says the low rate of employment among ultra-Orthodox men and Arab women in particular is hindering growth. She says both segments are showing increased employment, but without a drastic change Israel would suffer in comparison to other developed nations. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.