Sustained unemployment growth
- Unemployment up to 6.2 percent in April
- Unemployment growth hits both genders
- Number of WW benefits down by more than 3 thousand in April
- Fewer young and male benefit recipients
According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, unemployment adjusted for seasonal variation has grown by 24 thousand to 489 thousand in April 2012.
Figures published by the Institute for Implementation of Employees’ Insurances (UWV) show that the number of unemployment (WW) benefits has dropped by more than 3 thousand to 292 thousand.
Unemployment further up
Unemployment growth was relatively high in April. The average monthly unemployment growth over the past three months was 7 thousand. Last month, 6.2 percent of the labour force were unemployed. It is more than six years ago that the unemployment rate in the Netherlands exceeded 6 percent.
Unemployment growth among both genders
Unemployment increased among both genders in April. Over the past three months, unemployment among men rose more rapidly than among women. During this period, the average monthly unemployment growth was particularly high among people in the age categories 15-25 and 45-65.
Fewer WW benefits in sectors subject to seasonal variation
The number of benefits terminated in April was higher than the number of new benefits. As a result, the total amount of running benefits was reduced, in particular benefits granted to under-25s and men. The number of WW benefits was reduced across nearly all sectors in April. Proportionally, the most substantial reduction was found in sectors subject to seasonal variation, like agriculture and construction.
Many WW recipients in age category 55 or older
More than one quarter of WW benefits were paid to over-55s. Their number increased by nearly 14 percent over the past year to 76 thousand. With 12 thousand, the number of WW benefits paid to young people under the age of 25 was limited, although their number grew relatively fast by nearly 41 percent over the past twelve months.