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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Australia plans to cut new international student enrollment by a third next year.</li><li>The cap follows a surge in international students post-pandemic, straining the rental market.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/australia-law-right-to-disconnect-ignore-calls-after-hours-work-2024-8">Australia</a> is capping new international students next year, in an effort to curb record migration.The country plans to limit <a target="_blank" class="" href=" https://www.businessinsider.com/how-employers-can-support-international-students-job-seekers-2022-3">international student</a> enrollments to 270,000 in 2025, Australian education minister announced on Tuesday. In 2023, there were just over 400,000 new international students."There's about 10% more <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/studying-abroad-in-north-korea-isolating-surreal-friendships-made-2024-7">international students</a> in our universities today than before the pandemic, and about 50% more in our private vocational and training providers," education minister Jason Clare said in a press briefing on Tuesday. "These reforms are designed to make it better and fairer, and set it up on a more sustainable footing going forward."The government will assign each university or vocational institute an individual limit.Australia has about 718,000 total <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-visa-moved-usa-canada-immigrants-2024-7">international students</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-diplomat-chinese-students-should-not-access-sensitive-tech-2024-6">primarily from China</a>, India, and Nepal, according to 2024 education department <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.education.gov.au/international-education-data-and-research/international-student-numbers-country-state-and-territory">figures</a>.Curbs on migration were first announced in December, when Australia said it would tighten visa scrutiny for graduates and require students to secure higher scores on their English proficiency tests.The restrictions come after a period of concessions to encourage foreign workers and students who left during the pandemic to return to Australia. That created an influx of foreigners, which worsened the pressure on the country's tight rental market.Clare added that the restrictions will also limit the amount of "shonks" — people and businesses exploiting the demand for international education in Australia. Authorities have previously said that some providers participate in unethical practices or scams, such as recruiting students who are not proficient enough in English to do well, luring students with the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/26/fraudulent-course-providers-face-closure-in-labors-international-education-crackdown">promises of jobs</a>, or promising tuition fee discounts to those who recruit other students.Canada announced similar limitations earlier this year, in an effort to bring down the costs of buying and renting homes.Canada's immigration agency said in January that it will cap the number of acceptances for international study permits. The move is expected to cut the number of students by 35% compared to last year and reduce the number of "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10241346/international-student-visas-canada/">puppy mills</a>" that provide poor-quality education.According to a study by education consultant IDP, the US, Australia, the UK, and Canada are hotspots for those seeking international education, with countries like Germany, New Zealand, and Ireland gaining interest in recent years.Since May 2023, the UK has clamped down on international students bringing their families on all student visas, except postgraduate research and those with government scholarships. The changes have also reduced the number of people using student passes as a loophole to work. The government <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tough-government-action-on-student-visas-comes-into-effect">forecast</a> that the changes would lead to 140,000 fewer people coming to the country.In the US, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-lottery-changes-benefit-startups-hiring-immigrants-2024-2">dwindling chances</a> of landing a work visa after graduation because of the H-1B lottery system have made the country less attractive for some foreign students. A Trump-era executive order <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2021/08/10/biden-keeps-costly-trump-visa-policy-denying-chinese-grad-students/">denying visas to Chinese graduate students</a> also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/decline-china-international-students-economy-universities-trump-biden-immigration-covid-2022-8">slashed the number of enrollments.</a>

It's a terrible time to be an international student. Australia is the latest country to limit visas.

<keyword id="22782965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashima-Gulati" source="keywords">Ashima Gulati</keyword> is a lawyer turned <keyword id="22782966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="policy-consultant" source="keywords">policy consultant</keyword> with over 7 years of experience in India's public policy arena. Starting off with a B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law Institute University in Bhopal, Ashima kicked off her career as a securities and capital markets lawyer in Mumbai. Craving a deeper understanding of India's socio-economic landscape, she made a switch to the development and policy sector. Since her stint in Mumbai, Ashima's had quite the journey, including a two-year fellowship where she taught 70 students from a low-income community and co-founding a non-profit to improve healthcare access for marginalised communities. More recently, while Ashima was working as an independent consultant, collaborating with government, non-profit, and private organisations to build climate resilience and adaptation strategies for these groups, she went on something of a spree and applied to 10 master’s programs that combined general policy insights with climate change and sustainable development. But here’s the kicker: she got into ALL of them and bagged over USD 200,000 in <keyword id="19897091" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scholarships" source="keywords">scholarships</keyword>! The impressive list of colleges and universities she got accepted into include Oxford, Columbia, <keyword id="191548" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cornell" source="Orion">Cornell</keyword>, <keyword id="142498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="university-of-chicago" source="Orion">University of Chicago</keyword>'s Harris School of Public Policy, The Fletcher School at Tufts University and Geneva Graduate Institute, to name a few. As Ashima prepares to leave for Oxford, where she will pursue Master of Public Policy, we got in touch with her to ask her how she managed to achieve this monumental feat. While she works towards her ever-evolving passion for public policy and sustainable development, other aspirants can probably take a page or two out of her book! Ashima attributes her success in applying to international universities to the a few unique aspects. Here are five such major factors that helped her application stand out from the crowd in her own words: Demonstrate the uniqueness of candidature through evidence “I believe it is of utmost importance to be able to substantiate the claims that one makes in their applications with respect to their profile, work experiences, leadership qualities, and most importantly, the impact that one has created in the society. Since my college days, I have maintained a detailed record of all initiatives and opportunities I have engaged in, documenting my involvement thoroughly. For my master’s applications, I included such documentation through publications, data evidence, and other relevant sources. Additionally, I encouraged my recommenders to provide evidence supporting the qualities they intended to highlight in their letters. This approach fosters transparency and credibility in the application, avoiding the use of superlatives and ensuring grounded presentation of one’s profile.” Showcase alignment with the specific program and the university “It is essential to thoroughly research and understand the focus and advantages of the specific program before drafting application essays. This ensures that you can effectively align your profile and professional experiences with the program and the university. The application should clearly demonstrate how the program’s unique features will enhance your knowledge, skills, and career goals. In my view, the applications should be highly tailored to the specific program and university to which one is applying to.” Be honest with one’s limitations and gaps in current knowledge and skill set “In my view, there has to be a demonstrated need for upskilling and applying to the program. One should be able to discuss the obstacles and hindrances one has experienced in their current profile, and a genuine need to upskill to overcome such challenges. Additionally, the application should also discuss how the program/university will help the applicant in addressing such challenges, and in helping one grow in their professional journey.” Connect with alumni and articulate well-considered future goals “Applicants should clearly outline their professional goals, both short-term and long-term, within their applications. It is important to demonstrate that you have engaged with alumni to gain insights into the opportunities provided by the program and the university. Additionally, the application should detail how the program and the university will support you in achieving these advanced goals. This approach reflects thorough research and preparation, showcasing the uniqueness of the program and university as your commitment to leveraging these opportunities effectively.” Discuss your contribution to the growth of the program/university “Many applicants overlook this aspect in their applications. It is crucial to articulate how you will contribute to the program and university both as a current student and as an alumnus. This demonstrates a strong commitment to the institution. You should describe how you plan to leverage your skills and knowledge in specific areas, such as conferences or journals, to contribute meaningfully to the institution. This reflects your genuine interest and dedication to the institute, and a mutual relationship that you wish to nurture with the institute.” While the pointers Ashima shares are undoubtedly helpful, she stresses on how its the candidate profile that matters most. You can check out her profile <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashima-gulati/?originalSubdomain=in" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>. Furthermore, as dedicated as Ashima is towards her cause and her <keyword id="19907717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="education" source="keywords">education</keyword> at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, she acknowledges that letting go of the financial stability that her career in law afforded her was not an easy choice to make. However, these acceptances served as affirmations that traditional notions of what a career must look like are evolving, she asserted. She now knows that taking risks in one’s career can be rewarding if done right! Going forward, Ashima is committed to using her education to advance her career in the public policy sector with the goal of contributing to the well-being and uplifting of marginalised communities, mostly by addressing the intersections of education, healthcare and climate change. And we wish her all the very best! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112316410" title="I moved from the US to Germany for college. Tuition is mostly free, but I miss the American school spirit." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

This Amritsar resident got into Oxford, Columbia, Cornell, and 10 major international programs with over Rs. 1.6 crore in scholarships! She shares 5 tips for fellow applicants

The state of the job market has been worrisome for people across the country ever since companies started carrying out large scale layoffs. In 2022, Twitter (now called X) laid off thousands of employees and eventually, companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and so on also began handing the pink slip to employees. Thousands of people took to social media platforms to share their ordeals. While some have successfully moved on to new roles now, many are still searching for opportunities, elevating competition in the job market. However, the situation isn't so grim everywhere. <keyword id="78512" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iim-calcutta" source="Orion">IIM Calcutta</keyword> students bagged offers worth nearly 2 lakh per month for their summer internship programme. Curious? Read on to know more. The 61st batch of IIM Calcutta's flagship MBA programme saw all 475 students secure internships during the recent placement season. The numbers also speak volumes: a staggering median stipend of ₹2 lakh per month, a record-breaking achievement, and an average of ₹1.89 lakh that closely follows. And it doesn’t stop there—the highest domestic offer came in at ₹3.67 lakh, while international placements soared with top offers of ₹6.75 lakh per month. For many, this success story from IIM Calcutta is a reminder that when it comes to premium talent, there’s always a demand, even when the world feels uncertain. Professor Ritu Mehta, Chairperson of Placement Activities at IIM Calcutta, said as per a report in ET, "The outcome of the <keyword id="23806452" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="summer-internship-offers" source="keywords">summer internship offers</keyword> has yet again demonstrated the future readiness of our students in a highly competitive landscape. Globally, there is an ongoing recalibration of managerial jobs and pullback of job postings, hence we are very grateful to our recruiters to repose their trust in our students and our academic processes." Meanwhile, IIM Calcutta said, "The cluster-cohort placement process that involved various policies such as ‘dream offer’ enabled recruiters to find a better student-recruiter fit, making the overall process a win-win for both recruiters and students." For the unversed, IIM Calcutta, established in 1961 as the first Indian Institute of Management, is one of the most prestigious business schools in India and is globally renowned for its academic excellence. Known for its rigorous MBA programme, it has built a reputation for producing leaders equipped with strong analytical and strategic thinking skills. The institute has consistently attracted top-tier recruiters across various industries, and people across the industry keep a close eye during its placement season.

₹1.89 lakh per month for summer internship! Freshers at this institute bag bumper monthly stipend

<ul class="summary-list"><li>As college tuition fees soar, more American students are going abroad.</li><li>Beyond cheaper tuition, college abroad can offer multiple benefits, including exposure to new cultures.</li></ul>When it was time for Liza Jean Miezejeski to start thinking about college, she couldn't stop worrying about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/professor-student-loan-debt-suddenly-forgiven-2024-8">student debt</a>."Every time I looked, there were schools that seemed interesting, but none that was worth going into debt for," she told Business Insider.One day, while in the car with her mom, she heard on the radio that Americans were moving to Germany for free education. It sounded like a dream to her: a chance to live abroad and earn an affordable college degree.Miezejeski, then a sophomore at a Connecticut high school, started to look into it seriously. She ended up <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-gen-z-college-europe-university-abroad-prague-brussels-affordable-2024-8">attending a university in Prague</a> and then moved to Brussels for graduate school. She graduated from both schools with no debt.Miezejeski is not alone. Like her, more American students are looking abroad to complete their college education.While<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyu-student-hated-study-abroad-semester-florence-italy-2023-3"> study abroad</a> programs — which allow students to spend a semester or a year overseas — are nothing new, completing a full degree outside the US has been gaining popularity.A representative for the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit exchange organization based in New York, told BI the number of US-based students who went to college abroad has increased in the last year. "Most US colleges and universities anticipate increased or stable student participation in study abroad in the forthcoming 2024/25 academic year," the representative said. They said this includes students in non-exchange programs and those pursuing degrees overseas.James Edge, the owner of Beyond the States, a platform that helps students apply to bachelor's and master's programs abroad, said he's seen a 5 to 10% increase in students pursuing degrees abroad each year since he joined the company three years ago.Greg Kaplan, a private college admissions counselor and the author of "Earning Admission: Real Strategies for Getting Into Highly Selective Colleges," said interest has increased tenfold over the past six years. "Six years ago, if we had one student applying abroad, it was interesting," he said. Now, out of the 350 high school students his company works with yearly, 10 to 20% apply to college abroad, he said.There are several reasons for this, from an interest in specific programs to a desire to explore the world. But above all, experts and students alike have echoed the same sentiment: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-tuition-costs-too-much-make-degrees-matter-less-jobs-2023-9">college in America is too expensive</a>.<h2 id="8e99aa2f-2e09-4281-86df-d39f0ee659f3">The skyrocketing prices of college in the US</h2>According to the<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Search?query=college%20tuition&amp;query2=college%20tuition&amp;resultType=all&amp;page=1&amp;sortBy=relevance&amp;overlayDigestTableId=202707"> National Center for Education Statistics</a>, students in the US spent an average of $28,297 a year — or around $113,188 for a four-year program — on tuition and required fees at public out-of-state schools in the academic year of 2022 to 2023.These fees have risen over the years. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/see-20-years-of-tuition-growth-at-national-universities">U.S. News &amp; World Report</a> found that among the 436 colleges in its annual rankings, out-of-state tuition fees at public universities have risen by around 32% over two decades after adjustments for inflation. The same report showed that in-state tuition fees at public universities have grown by 45%.And <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-us-universities-wildly-expensive-education-tuition-fees-america-2024-3">private colleges</a> in the US can cost more than twice that much. Tuition this year at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://seaver.pepperdine.edu/admission/financial-aid/undergraduate/costs/budget-costs.htm">Pepperdine University</a> in Malibu, which is ranked as one of the most expensive schools in the country, is $65,990."That sticker shock is very potent for families," said Robert Harry, an associate director of college counseling at Kent School, a boarding school in Connecticut.Harry estimates that in his 15 years of experience, the number of kids who went abroad for college increased from around 1% of any given high school class to as much as 5 or 10% of a class.<h2 id="da752867-c83d-49cb-9f93-4e420a8dea12">Many have their eyes set on Europe</h2>College in Europe has become an attractive alternative. For one, tuition is generally cheaper. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://beyondthestates.com/">Beyond the States</a> lists the average tuition fee for European bachelor's programs as $7,390 a year for international students. The average is based on calculations from its database of 12,600 English-taught bachelor's programs in Europe. In some countries, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-germany-from-us-school-almost-deported-dont-regret-2023-11">Germany, public college education is free</a>, even for international students.Many European university degrees often take three years to complete, so it's also one less year of college tuition to pay for. "You get an extra year of your life back," Edge said.American students often turn to English-speaking destinations like the UK and Ireland for their education abroad. However, college advisors said other European and Asian countries, like the Netherlands and Japan, that offer English-language programs are also gaining popularity.<h2 id="c8d0dc93-f262-4e4f-96d1-cf7969c1161f">The rise in interest comes as US applications become more competitive</h2><div type="image" title="A girl and her brother on a bridge in Toulouse, France" height="900" width="1200" msid="114566917" hostid="261" sizebytes="90356"></div>In 2019, Jacob Zeidberg <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-couple-sent-both-kids-college-europe-france-spain-cost-2024-7">applied to almost 30 schools</a> in the US. He was waitlisted or rejected from all of them.A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.commonapp.org/files/FY_application_trends_end_season_report_23-24.pdf">2024 report from Common App,</a> a college application platform, showed that application volume has grown by 171% since the 2014-15 academic year. The number of applications per applicant has risen by 46% in the same timeframe, now totaling 6.65 applications per person."When the Common App became ubiquitous, it started to get <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-competitive-than-ever-get-into-college-admissions-2024-1">really hard to get into American institutions</a> just because it's so much easier to apply to so many more of them," Harry said.It's pushed some parents and students to look elsewhere.For many, Europe is the answer. "Even if you haven't done all the extracurriculars, or if you haven't taken the SATs, it is much easier to get accepted to school in Europe because the way they do admissions is slightly different," Edge, owner of Beyond the States, said.For example, he said they may focus more on the student's academic strengths than on standardized tests.Zeidberg eventually applied to Toulouse Business School in France. He said the application process was smooth and efficient, and he was accepted two weeks later."It was like night and day," his mom, Jennifer Zeidberg, told BI.<h2 id="ea928511-b08c-486a-a718-951d6f05e28a">The benefits of college abroad go beyond cost</h2>In many US colleges, students declare a major after their freshman year. Many colleges outside the US are more specialized.That system appeals to many people who are sure of their interests. "If you are definitely a math person, knowing that you can do three or four years of math and never have to write another English essay — it's intriguing for people," Harry said.Scarlett Kiaras-Attari, who grew up in Kentucky and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-student-romanticized-uk-edinburgh-scotland-oxford-college-university-london-2024-8">moved to Scotland in 2018</a> for undergrad, was one of them. "I was so interested in medieval history and Classics," she told BI. "I just knew that there was no other place that I had applied to that was really going to capture that the way that I thought Edinburgh could."<div type="image" title="A girl poses in front of Oxford University" height="2268" width="3024" msid="114566921" hostid="261" sizebytes="556072"></div>Some students also seek niche fields that can only be found abroad. Kaplan, for example, had a student who turned down programs in the US because he wanted more exposure to Formula 1 racing, which is primarily rooted in Europe. He ended up studying motorsports engineering at Oxford.For many, being able to travel easily is also a huge plus."You can just pop on a train and go right next door to Portugal or France, for example. There's just so much more opportunities for cultural engagement," said Edge.<h2 id="47862e7c-8637-4709-bca9-9464a643493b">Important considerations</h2>Although tuition fees are usually lower, college advisors said that students going abroad have to consider other costs, such as visas, daily expenditures, rent, and flights back home.They should also consider the emotional impact of moving abroad.<div type="image" title="A girl posing in front of a castle in Germany" height="903" width="1204" msid="114566918" hostid="261" sizebytes="234730"></div>Amanda Mrozek, who withdrew from Central Michigan University in her third year and moved to Germany to get her degree in 2021, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-moving-germany-college-university-things-to-know-2024-7">struggled with cultural differences</a>.For example, her college in Germany lacked school spirit and a sports culture, she said. Most students also lived off-campus and went straight home after class instead of hanging out on campus."It's just not fun," she previously told BI. "I understand people will say, 'You're supposed to be learning.' But at least for me, I can learn better when I'm enjoying something about it."Harry often tells <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guide-moving-abroad-for-college-according-to-university-advisors-diploma-2024-9">students</a> they won't have a typical American college experience abroad and that they will often be in the minority of kids who go abroad."Recognize that your experience is going to be a bit different, but it doesn't mean it's any less rich or rewarding," he said.<div type="image" title="Girl sits by the window with her book in Italy" height="1886" width="2515" msid="114566920" hostid="261" sizebytes="312546"></div>In the years since graduating from high school, Miezejeski only knows of three other high school classmates who left the US: one went to Canada, and two others went to the Netherlands and Italy to study. But most of them stayed in Connecticut or studied in nearby cities like Boston and New York. Where she's from, it's not common to go abroad, but it's a slow trend, she said.Since completing her degree in 2021, she hasn't looked back.She decided to stay in Europe and pursue a master's degree in Brussels. Her master's program was one year long and cost around $4,700 — almost a fifth of what she would have paid if she had pursued a master's at the University of Connecticut, a college in her state, based on the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://bursar.uconn.edu/tuition-fees/graduate/2024-2025/">university's website</a>.More importantly, Miezejeski gained experiences money can't buy."I have friends now all over the world," she said. "I've learned about all their cultures, how they do things and their languages. I've met incredible people and learned so much. The learning does not stop."

College in the US was too expensive, so these students opted for Europe

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia's defense industry is short some tens of thousands of skilled laborers.</li><li>Traditional gender roles limit women's participation in crucial jobs there, a report says.</li></ul>Russia's defense manufacturing sector is short some tens of thousands of skilled laborers — and its hard stance on traditional roles for women could be part of it, according to new reports.Two years into its war in Ukraine, Russia is ramping up its military with a record <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/30/russias-defence-spending-to-rise-by-25-next-year-the-highest-since-the-cold-war">40% of its overall budget</a> now devoted to defense. It also plans to expand its number of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-orders-russia-army-expand-experts-cannot-do-this-forever-2024-9">active soldiers to 1.5 million</a>.That requires vast amounts of military equipment, and the infrastructure to support it.And that, in turn, requires workers, which Russia is currently struggling to find.In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that "over half a million jobs were created in the defense sector over the last year and a half alone," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/defense/1740983">according to Russian state-owned news agency TASS</a>.Yet, while the jobs may be there, the workers aren't.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cd6qndy200xo">An analysis published this week by BBC Russia</a> found that in the space of a single month this summer, some 90,000 defense industry-related job postings had appeared, with wages much higher than average salaries.The BBC said there were some 18,600 vacancies for operators of computer numerically controlled machines, or CNCs, which are used for shaping materials and are in wide demand in manufacturing. But just 600 resumes had come in for those roles, the outlet reported.Some of the postings had stood unfilled for months, it added.Researcher Dara Massicot, who focuses on defense and security issues in Russia and Eurasia at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, highlighted labor shortage issues in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/09/russian-military-reconstitution-2030-pathways-and-prospects?lang=en">a recent paper</a> on how Russia is reconstituting its military.Workers who would normally plug the gap — such as migrants, students, and prisoners — are now being used as combatants to fight in Ukraine, she wrote."According to conservative estimates, wartime emigration and military mobilization have cost the workforce about 600,000 working-age males," Massicot said.Russia does have one largely untapped source of labor for the defense industry: women. But here it finds itself in a bind.Since the 1970s, women in Russia have been barred from a raft of professions that are crucial to the defense sector, for fear of harming their fertility or a pregnancy, according to Massicot."Women are prohibited from certain occupations deemed physically dangerous," she wrote, giving examples such as those that deal with hazardous chemicals or heavy metals, which rules out many defense industry jobs.Women are also barred from jobs like mining, heavy lifting, operating heavy machinery, most metallurgy, and handling various chemicals, she added.By contrast, 5% of US welders are female, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://weldingworkforcedata.com/">according to the American Welding Society</a> — a small proportion of the workforce that still amounts to tens of thousands of available workers."Russia would rather import foreign labor and use convicts than change the labor code (from the 1970s) to allow Russian women into certain types of jobs," Massicot <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/MassDara/status/1841921332230967464">wrote on X this week</a>.But Russia is in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-population-decline-worker-shortage-growth-outlook-ukraine-war-2024-8">a demographic spiral</a>, which pre-dates COVID and the mass mobilization for the war in Ukraine.At the end of 2023, Russia was short a record 5 million workers across all sectors, according to an estimate from the Russian Academy of Science's Institute of Economics, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-short-around-48-million-workers-2023-crunch-persist-izvestia-2023-12-24/">Reuters reported at the time</a>.The decline in Russia's labor force is forecast to continue until 2040, Massicot wrote.Meanwhile, Russia <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-ukraine-war-moscow-military-spending-currency-inflation-budget-2024-9">is now leaning on the war to keep its economy from collapsing</a>, putting more pressure on its labor force. Economists say the war is the only thing keeping Russia from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-ukraine-war-moscow-military-spending-currency-inflation-budget-2024-9">entering an immediate recession</a>.Yet Russia appears to be focusing on longer-term solutions to its demographic issues, with a strong turn toward traditional roles for women.Putin recently reminisced about a time when women "had seven or eight children, and maybe even more," adding that "large families should be the norm," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-12-08/abortion-restrictions-and-discouragement-of-female-university-students-moscow-wants-russian-women-to-focus-on-childbearing.html">El País reported</a>.Last summer, Russia's Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko proposed policy tweaks that would reduce women's access to abortion, saying that there is a "vicious practice" of prioritizing a woman's career before children, per El País.This would make bringing women into defense manufacturing a hard cultural and political pivot, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/MassDara/status/1841922270962364867">Massicot said on X</a>.

Russia's defense industry has a massive labor shortage. Rules on what jobs women can do are part of the issue.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Gen Zs have found a more authentic resource when researching colleges: college content creators.</li><li>College content creators give study advice and post snippets of day-to-day school life on TikTok.</li></ul>In the summer before his senior year of high school, videos of students waking up in dorm rooms or wandering down the college quad started to flood Ryan Fuhrman's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-is-bad-boring-fyp-2024-2">TikTok For You feed</a>.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-tiktok-algorithm-for-you-page-works-watch-time-report-2021-7">algorithm</a> clearly knew that he should be researching college— and he took it as a cue to get started."Dorm room in NYU," he typed into the TikTok search bar. In a matter of seconds, he could <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tour-nyu-freshman-dorm-room-building-2023-9">tour the dorms</a> of New York University, checking out the bedding and wall art of each student who had chosen to share.In a similar manner, he went on to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-food-best-dining-halls-2017-8">judge the food quality</a> at the University of California, Los Angeles's dining halls, and get a feel for what a day in the life of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-college-freshmen-successful-first-year-professor-2024-9">college freshman</a> might look like at the University of Southern California.Unlike scrolling a school's website or browsing a brochure, TikTok allowed him to see colleges through other students' eyes."It made me believe, 'Wow, that actually could be my day,'" Fuhrman, 18, told Business Insider.Fuhrman is not alone. According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nearly-half-genz-use-tiktok-instagram-over-google-search-2022-7">Google's internal data</a>, nearly 40% of Gen Z prefers searching on TikTok and Instagram over Google Search and Maps, BI reported in July 2022.When it comes to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-choose-college-campus-tour-data-2023-12">deciding on a school</a>, these TikToks illuminate parts of college life that previous generations had little access to and often didn't discover until their freshman year — after the decision of where to go had been made.Instead of the typical campus tour hosted by one of the college's brand ambassadors and led along a curated map of the school's most attractive amenities, Gen Zers have multiple feeds through which they can examine a campus' vibe. And unlike the 15-minute promo videos produced by schools, much of what's featured on social media is coming from people they can relate to.<div type="image" title="Helaine Zhao standing outside of Harvard" height="1363" width="1817" msid="114753464" hostid="261" sizebytes="200338"></div><h2 id="c9b73a20-6e08-4a15-944b-3ebc651c868a">The rise of college content creators</h2>As of October 29, there were 2.3 million TikTok videos under the hashtag "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/College-life">college life</a>." The hashtag has gone viral, with 30.5 billion views.The popularity of college content on TikTok has introduced a slew of content creators covering their school life.From her very first day, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@helainezhao?lang=en">Helaine Zhao</a>, a Harvard freshman, started posting vlogs about life on campus.In a video posted in September, she shared her morning routine at college. The video shows her getting out of bed, putting in her contact lenses, picking out clothes, applying make-up, exercising at a gym, and getting breakfast. The video gained over 6 million views.Zhao, who started posting content in March, has gained over 92,300 followers on TikTok. And while she's eligible for TikTok's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-creator-rewards-program-challenges-google-search-youtube-2024-3">Creator Rewards Program</a>, which allows creators to monetize their content, she has not yet joined. Still, she occasionally signs paid collaborations with study brands like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/notability-note-taking-app-ipad-apple-review">Notability</a>, a note-taking app. Zhao preferred not to share how much she earns from the sponsorships.She recalls using the app to research colleges when she was deciding between Stanford, Harvard, and Yale."It was definitely a very helpful tool to get to experience these campuses without actually going to them in person," she said, although she eventually did visit the schools in person during their admitted student days.One college content creator she followed at the time was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@elisempham?lang=en">Elise Pham</a>. Now in her junior year at Harvard, Pham has more than 155,800 followers.<div type="image" title="A girl poses at Harvard" height="1000" width="1500" msid="114753468" hostid="261" sizebytes="54994"></div>"As the child of a single immigrant father and a mother who passed away when I was 9 years old, I didn't necessarily have a lot of resources and mentorship regarding the college application process," Pham, 20, told BI.She saw the value of providing resources for students who need college advice. So, when she started college, she began posting college admissions videos on TikTok about Harvard to help prospective students.She then founded the Ultimate Ivy League Guide, a college admissions consulting business that provides students with online guides and courses on college admissions. She's running the business while finishing her last two years of undergrad, and plans to continue working there full-time after graduating.Pham told BI that while she doesn't take personal income from the business, it earns a low six-figure amount a month. "The money is used to build a program that can make education more accessible for students from all socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds," she said. Pham provided BI with documentation of her business earnings.Similarly, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lillianzhang_?lang=en">Lillian Zhang</a>, a University of California Berkeley graduate, started posting content about her college life and internships during her junior year. It was during the thick of Covid, and she decided to cure her boredom by providing useful content for students.As it happened, some of her UC Berkeley vlogs went viral. In one vlog, which gained over 200,000 views, she wakes up early to go to the gym, has a mid-term review at school, then grabs a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stanford-student-internship-matcha-tea-farm-japan-what-she-learned-2024-10">matcha</a> latte and quesadilla for lunch."I think people just want to see what life at the school was through my experience," said Zhang, 24, who has more than 113,100 followers on TikTok.<div type="image" title="Lillian Zhang, a UC Berkeley alumni, speaking to students" height="3012" width="4016" msid="114753467" hostid="261" sizebytes="177026"></div>She added that prospective students had reached out to her to ask questions about school and internships."When I was still at Berkeley, there were people who recognized me from the videos. That was a really cool experience hearing how the information that I've shared has helped," she said.These days, Zhang works as a product marketing manager at a Big Tech company and posts mostly <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-worst-career-advice-on-tiktok-2024-8">career and financial advice.</a>In her first year of receiving income as a content creator, Zhang made around $47,000, mostly from sponsorships. This year, her revenue from content creation amounted to a low six-figure number. Zhang provided BI with documentation of her social media income.<h2 id="9db52995-a72c-4c11-8da5-4ec1c508d2f5">An authentic first-person perspective</h2>TikTok can be a useful tool for students to gain extra <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/more-american-students-avoid-debt-studying-abroad-college-europe-2024-10">insight into colleges</a> they are interested in.Lucie Vágnerová, the cofounder of the higher education consulting firm BKT Education in Brooklyn, advises her students to use social media during their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/only-1-in-4-americans-think-going-college-worth-it-2024-5">college research</a>."You might see a snippet from the cafeteria, people kicking a soccer ball around the quad, or even whether it's stressful to study in the library," she told BI. "Just real-life stuff that a college website won't necessarily tell you."Students can get a "vibe check" to see if they can relate to other students and appreciate the school culture, she added.At the same time, college content can also change how prospective students view a college for the worst, Greg Kaplan, a college advisor, said."We have seen students change their school lists based on what they observe about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-10-party-universities-in-america-ranked-2024-9">fraternities and sororities</a> and not apply to those schools if they don't think they will fit in," said Kaplan, whose company, Kaplan Educational Group, provides college application guidance to around 350 high school students yearly.<h2 id="47905484-234c-45bb-be67-7bb333c7f6e0">TikTok is useful — but it has limitations</h2>Vágnerová said prospective students should use TikTok with a discerning eye."As much as I love to see what's happening with social media creators coming out of campuses, I always tell students, 'This is one piece of the puzzle; don't linger anywhere too long,'" she said."Look for other social media creators. Look for location tags on Instagram stories. Get a comprehensive picture of a campus or an academic culture rather than just looking at it through the prism of one person," she added.And while TikTok can influence students' perceptions of a school, other factors that students consider before making their decision typically include cost, rankings, and location.<div type="image" title="A college student posing with his UCSD hoodie." height="1092" width="1456" msid="114753466" hostid="261" sizebytes="142156"></div>Of the 17 schools he applied to, Fuhrman said the schools he was accepted to included NYU, USC, and California State University. When it came down to his decision, he decided on the University of California, San Diego, because of its reputation, rankings, and cost. Fuhrman, who grew up in San Jose, also toured several schools in person.Still, he says it was TikTok videos that gave him confidence in his decision.On the app, he has a collection of saved videos titled "UCSD." One video shows the beaches of La Jolla: "That kind of made me fall in love with the school," he said. Another video he saved shows the modern interior of Franklin Antonio Hall — an engineering facility with an auditorium, 100-seat classrooms, and collaborative study space for students. The building opened on campus in 2022. "I would never have known because every single promotional content for the school just shows a picture of the library," he said."But the school is so much more than that."In between studying for a degree in structural engineering, Fuhrman, who has around <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ryan.furball">3,400 followers</a>, has also joined in on documenting his college life on TikTok."I think that inspiring others like me who didn't really have the school on their radar is my goal, ultimately," he said.

Gen Z turns to TikTok to find the perfect school. Some college students are cashing in.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Chipmaker GlobalFoundries began offering student loan debt relief to eligible employees this summer.</li><li>The benefit is aimed at helping the company attract and retain workers.</li></ul>When Morgan earned her bachelor's degree in 2018, she graduated with over $20,000 in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/student-loan-forgiveness-blocked-biden-debt-cancellation-education-department-relief-2024-10">student loan debt</a> that she hoped to pay off by 2032.While she's kept up with her payments — which amount to a few hundred dollars each month — they've made it harder for her and her significant other to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgages/tips-for-saving-for-a-down-payment">save for a home</a> and their future family, the 28-year-old told Business Insider. And she's not alone: More than <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/student-loan-debt-statistics/?tpt=a">40 million Americans</a> collectively held over $1 trillion in federal student debt last year.However, Morgan's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/student-loans/how-to-pay-off-student-loan-debt-fast">student loan</a> repayment journey has become a little easier over the past year.In May, her employer <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/gfs-stock">GlobalFoundries</a> launched a new student loan repayment program that provides qualifying US-based employees up to $28,500 in student debt relief. Morgan is a training coordinator at the New York-based manufacturer of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/semiconductor-chips-jobs-hiring-arizona-tech-phoenix-tsmc-intel-china-2024-1">semiconductor chips</a>, where she develops and implements technical training for the companies' technicians and engineers.Since the launch, a company spokesperson told BI that 237 employees have enrolled and that it's disbursed more than $100,000 in repayment funds. The relief program is helping repay student loans for degrees ranging from associate's to doctorates at more than 80 US colleges and universities.Morgan now expects to fully pay off her remaining $16,000 student debt balance by 2028 — four years earlier than planned."Paying off my student loans at a much faster rate will allow me to save that additional income to invest in our future, our home, and the growth of our family," said Morgan, who asked to be identified by her first name for privacy reasons. "This program is helping me to achieve financial freedom."<div type="image" title="Morgan" height="968" width="1290" msid="114374429" hostid="261" sizebytes="155266"></div>GlobalFoundries is betting that student debt relief will help it attract prospective employees and retain current workers. The company spokesperson told BI that the initial results have been promising."We are pleased to see enrollment numbers continue to increase, coupled with positive employee feedback," the spokesperson said. "This demonstrates the program is making a meaningful impact on the financial well-being of our employees."The company's debt relief program is part of a broader effort by semiconductor companies to grow their workforces as the US pushes for more domestic production of chips that power everything from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-chip-shortage-supply-constraints-2021-7">iPhones</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chip-shortage-auto-industry-car-buying-dealerships-consumers-inventory-2022-12">cars</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-ai-chip-semiconductors-tsmc-intel-jobs-arizona-2024-2">AI tools</a> like ChatGPT.In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chips-act-bill-to-boost-us-chipmaking-competition-with-china-2022-7"> CHIPS and Science Act</a> into law, which included $52.7 billion in tax breaks and subsidies intended to bolster the US semiconductor industry. However, some industry leaders have raised concerns that there won't be enough <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/semiconductor-certification-program-chipmaker-manufacturing-jobs-new-career-intel-tsmc-2023-8">skilled workers</a> to fill the jobs that will eventually be created.According to a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.semiconductors.org/america-faces-significant-shortage-of-tech-workers-in-semiconductor-industry-and-throughout-u-s-economy/"> report</a> published last year by the trade and lobbying group Semiconductor Industry Association and Oxford Economics, the US semiconductor industry faces a worker shortage of 67,000 people by 2030, including technicians, computer scientists, and engineers."It's not just about attracting talent; it's about retaining talent and ensuring our team feels supported and ready to lead in such a crucial industry," Pradheepa Raman, chief people officer at GlobalFoundries, told BI.To be sure, it's unclear if programs like GlobalFoundries will successfully address the company's workforce needs in the coming years. However, other companies in the semiconductor industry, like <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=73de951b92747ea5bef57a78e50672904ae9aa73440c55d26deb3a0e4fdc24dc&amp;postID=67000ba80c43543ec7a9c940&amp;postSlug=student-loan-debt-relief-globalfoundries-semiconductor-chip-workforce-shortage-2024-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nvidia.com%2Fen-us%2Fbenefits%2Fmoney%2F529-college-savings-plans%2F">Nvidia</a>, have implemented student loan reimbursement programs. <h2 id="80d0f88b-f671-41e5-a9f5-6e2de733e674">Hiring challenges have forced the company to get creative</h2>In February, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/globalfoundries-and-biden-harris-administration-announce-chips-and-science-act-funding-for-essential-chip-manufacturing-1033079603">$1.5 billion</a> of the CHIPS Act funding was allocated to GlobalFoundries to expand production at the company's Malta, New York chip factory and build a new factory. Additionally, the Biden administration promised another $1.6 billion in federal loans. This is expected to triple GlobalFoundries' production capacity in New York over 10 years and create roughly <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/biden-harris-administration-announces-preliminary-terms-globalfoundries">1,500</a> manufacturing jobs.However, filling roles like these can be challenging. Raman said GlobalFoundries has faced the same hiring challenges that are impacting the broader US semiconductor industry, which sometimes leads to longer recruitment periods for certain roles.These hiring challenges are among the reasons the company has established partnerships with <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/globalfoundries-partners-with-micron-and-u-s-national-science-foundation-to-drive-semiconductor-workforce-development-at-minority-serving-institutions-1033407247">universities</a>, community colleges, and STEM programs, in addition to starting an internal apprenticeship <a target="_blank" href="https://gf.com/careers/gf-maintenance-technician-apprenticeship-malta/">program</a> in 2021 — the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/biden-harris-administration-announces-preliminary-terms-globalfoundries">first</a> of its kind in the semiconductor industry."The demand for skilled workers in technology is outpacing supply, which is why we've been so proactive in our approach to workforce development," Raman said.The company's student debt relief program is just another way it's trying to attract workers.To be sure, debt relief isn't provided all at once. Through a partnership with the education platform EdAssist by Bright Horizons, GlobalFoundries sends a monthly payment directly to an employee's loan provider for up to 10 years.Both current workers and new hires are eligible to apply for the relief program, which the company expects to be an ongoing benefit offered to employees. To continue receiving the relief, an employee must make their minimum student debt payment, have a loan in good standing, and remain employed by GlobalFoundries."GlobalFoundries' contribution applies uniformly to all employees and increases over time with an initial investment of more than $100 a month during the first four years and up to $28,500 over the lifetime of the program," the company spokesperson said.In addition to debt relief, GlobalFoundries also offers a childcare subsidy and paid parental leave — 20 weeks for the birth parent and 12 weeks for the non-birth parent.These perks are helping employees like Stephanie, a marketing specialist based in Austin.After Stephanie earned an MBA in 2015, she said she had about $50,000 in student loan debt — her current balance is about $39,000. She said she signed up for GlobalFoundries' relief program on "day one" and received her first payment less than a month later, the 33-year-old told BI. She asked to be identified by her first name for privacy reasons.<div type="image" title="Stephanie" height="1737" width="2316" msid="114374433" hostid="261" sizebytes="455640"></div>The relief has been a "game changer," Stephanie said. If she stays at her job, she estimates GlobalFoundries will contribute thousands. She said she was only eligible for five years of relief because, under her repayment plan, her loans are supposed to be paid off within that timeframe.Before Stephanie enrolled in the program, she said she was on track to pay off her student debt by 2028. She now expects to pay it off at least one year ahead of schedule."It's made a real difference in reducing my principal and has given me more flexibility for my future instead of feeling constantly tied down by student loans."Do you work in the semiconductor chip industry and have a story to tell? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jzinkula@businessinsider.com">jzinkula@businessinsider.com</a>.

One chip company's newest tactic to attract workers: Help pay off their student loans

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Israel's tourism industry has faced a major drop in visitors and revenues since October 7, 2023.</li><li>Businesses have closed due to Hamas' rocket strikes in the south and Hezbollah's fire in the north.</li></ul>Israel's tourism industry has suffered significantly since Hamas launched its terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023.According to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2024/tourism_q1_24/t01.pdf">statistics</a> from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of tourists dropped from around 300,000 in September to around 89,000 in October, falling to around 38,000 in November.So did tourism income.In 2023, it declined from around $1.4 billion in the third quarter to around $464 million in the last quarter, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2024/tourism_q1_24/t18.pdf">data</a> from Israel's CBS."2023 was supposed to be a record year for tourism in Israel; we were close to 4.5 million tourists," said Peleg Lewi, a foreign affairs advisor to Israel's Tourism Ministry.The downward trend has continued over the first six months of this year, with just 501,100 visitors compared to 2.1 million in the same period last year, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/pages/2024/%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%9E%D7%91%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99-2024.aspx">data</a> from Israel's CBS.The lack of visitors has been compounded by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://saleslink.aa.com/en-US/blog/2023/travel_advisory/israel-security-incident-travel-notice-exception-policy.html">many</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/aegeanairlines/status/1710655166687461491">international</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.aircanada.com/uk/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2023/civil-unrest-israel.html#/">airlines</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/airindia/status/1710945413401088065?lang=en">pausing</a> flights to Israel in the wake of Hamas' terrorist attacks, with some still <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-08-12/ty-article/lufthansa-and-swiss-extend-suspension-of-flights-to-israel-until-at-least-august-21/00000191-46e7-d7bb-a1df-efef150e0000">canceling</a> flights as recently as this week.Samuel Scanlon, a Ph.D. candidate with University College Dublin's School of Sociology, pointed to other factors in a piece for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://theconversation.com/war-in-gaza-has-plunged-israels-tourism-industry-into-a-crisis-it-will-struggle-to-recover-from-229151">The Conversation</a> in May.He said Israel's tourism sector may be suffering from the fallout of US college student-led <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-students-groups-signed-anti-israel-letter-without-them-knowing-2023-10">protests</a>, calls for boycotts and divestitures, and social media advocacy and solidarity movements, which could hurt its revenues.As many as 46,000 businesses have been forced to shut down since the October 7 terrorist attacks, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/up-to-60000-israeli-businesses-may-close-in-2024-as-war-takes-toll-on-economy/#:~:text=CofaceBDI%20says%2046%2C000%20businesses%20have,services%20sectors%20are%20hit%20hardest">business information</a> company CofaceBDI, relayed by The Times of Israel last month.<h2 id="4d49ed02-db0c-445b-9a38-1960e49b42e1">Relying on domestic clients, exporting abroad, and cost-cutting</h2>David Tucker, general manager of the Ramada by Wyndham Hotel in Jerusalem, said that the hotel is facing a challenge due to a "big" drop in international visitors.Since the Hamas' October 7 terrorist attacks, the hotel's tourism mix has changed, he told BI, with about 30% of tourists now coming from Israel and 70% from abroad, versus about 10% of Israelis and 90% of foreigners before the attacks.And, "obviously," the hotel's profits "dropped" last year, Tucker added.He declined to give BI the hotel's profit figures or the number of visitors staying there before and after the October 7 terrorist attacks, but he said he expected the hotel to "break-even, plus" this year.Yossi Navi, general manager of the Carlton Hotel in Tel Aviv, said the hotel also weathered the war over the last 10 months.<div type="image" title="A view of the 'Carlton' hotel in 2013" height="3355" width="4497" msid="112604987" hostid="261" sizebytes="1331924"></div>He told BI that the hotel made a bigger profit in the first quarter of this year than in the same quarter last year, but he declined to give BI the hotel's profit numbers.He said the hotel stayed afloat by cutting back on outsourcing services, turning to cheaper food and amenity suppliers, and getting support from Jewish organizations — all while housing war evacuees for free in 60 of its 270 rooms.The Israeli government paid $250 per room per night for a couple, he said, which means he hasn't had to pay extra to house evacuees."This is the only way to survive," he said. As of May, just 65% of the hotel was full, up from 45% in October and 55% between December and April, he said.Israeli tour guides, meanwhile, told BI in May that they have had to pivot to "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-gaza-tour-guides-pivot-october-7-tours-make-money-2024-6">grief tourism</a>" as their only means of making money as the sites of the October 7 attacks are the only ones in demand.On October 7, 2023, more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, were <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-wreckage-destruction-at-israeli-festival-attacked-by-hamas-2023-10">killed</a> in Hamas attacks on Israel, with the Nova musical festival being the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-festival-attendees-played-dead-for-hours-during-hamas-attack-2023-10">site</a> of the highest number of casualties.Israel retaliated <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-israel-trying-to-achieve-in-gaza-bombing-2023-12">against Hamas in Gaza,</a> which, according to the UN, has led to more <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-war-un-revises-death-toll-women-and-children">than 35,000 Palestinian deaths</a>.<h2 id="3e61ee4b-bedf-4d14-8658-bc3486993066">On the brink of war</h2>Things have not been as easy in northern Israel.Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating out of Lebanon, have regularly exchanged fire since Hamas staged its cross-border terrorist attack from Gaza.While this tit-for-tat has so far been contained to the border region, it could <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wider-war-hezbollah-could-unleash-unprecedented-missile-barrage-against-israel-2024-7">escalate into a wider war</a>.Tensions rose again recently after Israel <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-tried-killing-top-hezbollah-commander-beirut-with-us-bounty-2024-7">killed</a> a Hezbollah commander in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.The IDF <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/IDF/status/1818397182602707308">said</a> the attack came in retaliation to the armed group's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-promised-revenge-attack-on-hezbollah-yet-to-follow-through-2024-7">lethal rocket strike</a> on a soccer field in the part of the Golan Heights controlled by Israel.Yaara Alfasi, vice president of marketing and export at Mount Odem Winery, said the family business, located in the northern part of the Golan Heights, near the Israel-Lebanon border, has borne the brunt of constant fire in the area.<div type="image" title="Smoke billowed after a hit from a rocket fired from southern Lebanon over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on July 8, 2024." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112604988" hostid="261" sizebytes="158012"></div>He told BI that the winery was declared a closed military area from October until November, at the peak of the harvest season, and the winery's sales dropped 70–80% in the last quarter of 2023.Even now, he said, there is still "uncertainty as to whether we will be able to get to the vineyards because the security situation warms up and relaxes every time.""Although the market has gradually recovered, it is still far from what it was at the beginning of the war," he said.Gal Yaniv, CEO of Pelter Winery, a family-owned business in the Golan Heights, finds himself in a similar situation.He told BI that most of the vineyards are on the Lebanese-Syrian border, and some are out of reach due to cross-border fires and explosions."Due to fires caused by Hezbollah missiles, we have already lost about 7% of the expected crops," he said, adding: "If the situation continues, we are in big trouble."He said his profits have dropped by about 5% since October 7.<h2 id="ef44bd6e-4229-415d-9c8e-43aa2e04e6c6">The tourism industry has been there before</h2>Having worked for more than 40 years in Israel's hospitality industry, Tucker of the Ramada by Wyndham Hotel said the country has experienced multiple crises, including two intifadas and two Lebanese wars."And once things settle, within a couple of months, tourists come back, big time, because people want to visit Israel and the Holy Land," he said.Tucker said he hopes the war will end "as soon as possible."However, for this to happen, the hostages must be released, he said, adding that he wouldn't want to be in Netanyahu's "shoes" right now.Navi from Tel Aviv's Carlton Hotel echoed Tucker's comments, saying ending the war with Hamas would "absolutely" help.Lewi, the foreign affairs advisor to Israel's Tourism Ministry, predicted that if the conflict ends, the industry's recovery would take longer than in past conflicts, likely between three and six months."In the last 20 years, it was usually short cycles of violence — two or three weeks. We have been there for 10 months," he said.According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/up-to-60000-israeli-businesses-may-close-in-2024-as-war-takes-toll-on-economy/#:~:text=CofaceBDI%20says%2046%2C000%20businesses%20have,services%20sectors%20are%20hit%20hardest">business information</a> company CofaceBDI, relayed by The Times of Israel, as many as 60,000 businesses are expected to close in 2024."We were making plans for the day after, the day after, and the day after hasn't arrived," Lewi said.

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