Results of a governmental study released on Tuesday say 20,100 Israeli lost their jobs in July.

The study, issued for the Israeli Employment Service, said the numbers were the highest monthly figure since July 2009, with the overall number of recorded unemployed Israelis at 187,200.

In late July, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) announced that the unemployment rate has reached seven percent in the second quarter of 2012, after dropping to a 5.6 percent all-time low in 2011.

At the time, Treasury officials estimated that the numbers would rise to 10 percent in the near future.

"There is a concern that in light of what's happening in other countries, the recession will get worse," a treasury official told local media.

"The difficulties of exporting to those countries, along with a slowdown in the Israeli economy, may heighten the rate," he added.

Tuesday's report also noted a 9.2 percent drop in employers demand for new workers, compared to July of last year.

Israeli Employment Service Director-General Boaz Hirsch told Ha 'aretz that job losses were more common among women, people aged 25-34, and employees in technical fields.

Despite financial woes - including a burgeoning deficit which the government is trying to battle with an austerity plan entailing tax hikes and budget cuts - the CBS announced some surprisingly positive reports regarding the condition of the Israeli economy.

The CBS announced last week the Israeli economy grew by three percent in the first half of the year, and by 3.2 percent in its second quarter.

The second-quarter growth figures reflects a 10.3 percent increase in the export of goods and services, a 5.4 percent rise in private consumption and a 1.8 percent rise in public consumption, which was partly offset by a 1.1 percent decline in fixed assets.

The Bank of Israel announced last week that the Composite State- of-the Economy index rose by 0.2 percent in July.

The number reflects continued stable growth at a rate similar to that in the first half of the year. But the rate is lower than it was last year, bank officials noted.