Unemployment not falling as fast as before

In the period March-May 2008 an average of 313 thousand people was unemployed. This equals 4.1 percent of the labour force. A year earlier the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. In the previous six months unemployment did not fall as fast as in the period before that, according to the latest figures by Statistics Netherlands. 

Falling less in the last six months

The seasonally adjusted unemployment figure for the period March-May 2008 was 307 thousand people, 2 thousand less than the month before. Since the figures are based on a sample survey, it is better to interpret them over a somewhat longer period. In the last six months, unemployment fell by an average of 2 thousand a month, which is not as much as in the preceding six months when the average decrease was 5 thousand a month.

Mainly fewer unemployed women

Total unemployment was down by 41 thousand on the previous year. This is largely because the number of unemployed women fell by 29 thousand within a year. Unemployment among men fell by much less than in previous years.