Strong rise in unemployment for over-45s

• Strong growth for over-45s in last months
• 125 thousand more unemployed in the space of one year
• More jobseekers with intermediate and higher levels at UWV
• Strongest rise in jobseekers in North Brabant

According to figures from Statistics Netherlands, 410 thousand people on average were unemployed in the Netherlands in the period October- December 2009. This is the equivalent of 5.3 percent of the labour force. Twelve months previously this was still only 3.7 percent.
Figures from the Institute for Employment Benefit Schemes show that the number of unemployed jobseekers had risen by most in the province North Brabant in December 2009 compared with one year previously. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit is now over 300 thousand.

Monthly increase 9 thousand in last six months

Seasonally adjusted unemployment came to 425 thousand in the period October-December 2009, 11 thousand more than in the previous three-month period.  Because the figures are based on a sample survey, the development is more reliable if measured over a longer period. In the last six months unemployment has risen by an average 9 thousand people a month.
In the period October-December 2009 the number of unemployed people was 125 thousand higher than in the same period twelve months previously. In the last few months unemployment among people aged 45 and older has risen especially strongly. Some 141 thousand over-45s are now unemployed, 42 thousand more than a year ago.

Strong rise in jobseekers in North Brabant

The number of unemployed people looking for a job registered with the Institute for Employment Benefit Schemes (UWV WERKbedrijf) rose by 91 thousand to 508 thousand in the twelve months to December 2009. This is an increase of 22 percent. In relative terms the number of jobseekers rose by most in the province North Brabant, by 34 percent. The smallest increases were in Groningen and Limburg, both 13 percent.  People looking for jobs at intermediate and higher levels were hit hardest by the increases. Their numbers rose by around 40 percent in the space of one year.

Unemployment benefits top 300 thousand

At the end of December 2009, 309 thousand people in the Netherlands were claiming unemployment benefit, 139 thousand more than at the end of 2008.  Part of this increase was caused by partial unemployment benefits. In December, more than 45 thousand new claimants registered for unemployment benefit, while 32 thousand benefits were ended. The number of claimants whose unemployment benefit was stopped because they had received it for the maximum duration had more than doubled from December 2008.