Inter-ethnic coexistence in Israeli plants: the job experiences and attitudes of Arab and Jewish workers

Abstract

Through personal interviews, we examine the job experiences and attitudes of Arab and Jewish workers sharing the same work site in five manufacturing facilities. We find that Arabs and Jews differ in terms of demographic, job status, and job treatment factors, as well as in levels of job satisfaction. Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, we determine that average Arab-Jewish differences in job satisfaction are not related to generic racial/ethnic differences. Rather, group disparities in job satisfaction primarily derive from differences in worker perceptions of their environment as well as in the nature of inter-ethnic work relations. Our results suggest employer efforts to establish a more supportive work environment and the promotion of positive cross-ethnic relationships at work may reduce the Arab-Jewish job satisfaction gap.