BEST OF TIMES, WORST OF TIMES, AND OCCUPATIONAL-MOBILITY - THE CASE OF SOVIET IMMIGRANTS IN ISRAEL

This article compares the incorporation of two groups of immigrants fr om the former Soviet Union into the Israeli labour market. The first g roup arrived in Israel in 1979 and the second group arrived in 1990. T he first period was characterized by a small number of immigrants (bes t of times), and the second period was characterized by mass migration (worst of times). Using data sets assembled by the Israel Central Bur eau of Statistics, labour force status of the two groups in Israel wer e examined four years after arrival (1983 and 1994, respectively). We found no difference in rate of labour force participation but consider able differences in the rate of occupational mobility between the two groups of immigrants. Specifically, the data reveal that immigrants we re able to find employment in both periods. However, during periods of mass migration, recent immigrants had experienced higher rates of dow nward occupational mobility and greater loss of occupational status.