Unemployment is continuing to rise in Israel with nearly 50,000 jobs having been lost since the beginning of the year.%% The US recently announced a steep rise in unemployment figures which increased to 8.5%, an unprecedented level since 1983. Unemployment figures in Israel reflect a local employment situation which is not much more encouraging. %% According to the Israel National Employment Service (INES), 20,072 people were laid off in Israel in March. In February, 17,830 joined the ranks of the unemployed, while in March of 2008, 11,856 jobs were lost. %%