Check Point, an Israel-based cybersecurity firm, plans to recruit 500 new employees for its Israeli offices by the end of 2025.

The hiring initiative, led by CEO Nadav Zafrir, will focus on research and development roles.

It aims to expand the company’s local workforce by 25%.

Currently, Check Point employs 3,000 staff in Israel and 7,000 globally.

This recruitment effort will increase the local headcount by over 15%.

To facilitate this, the company has introduced a referral program that rewards employees for successful candidate recommendations.

🔗 Source: Calcalist

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Check Point’s counter-trend expansion amid Israel’s tech exodus

Check Point’s aggressive hiring of 500 employees in Israel stands in stark contrast to broader industry trends, where the country experienced its first decline in tech employment in a decade.

Recent data shows that 8,300 tech employees, representing 2.1% of the workforce, left Israel between October 2023 and July 2024, largely due to ongoing conflict, high living costs, and concerns over education quality 1.

This exodus is further illustrated by the fact that Israeli tech companies now employ more workers abroad (440,000) than domestically (400,000), indicating a significant brain drain from the local ecosystem 2.

Check Point’s investment in a new Tel Aviv campus with 4,000 workstations (double its current headquarters capacity) represents a major vote of confidence in Israel’s tech future at a time when many competitors are reducing their local footprint.

The company’s expansion strategy, including its NIS 500 million real estate investment, signals a long-term commitment to Israel as its innovation center despite the challenging geopolitical environment.

2️⃣ Strategic talent acquisition amid cybersecurity skills shortage

Check Point’s “Bring a Friend” referral program, which rewards employees even for candidates who simply reach the interview stage, reflects the increasingly competitive landscape for cybersecurity talent.