97 thousand young unemployed in 2003

Two-thirds of a total of 1.9 million young people aged 15-24 years in the Netherlands attended some form of education in 2003. More than half a million out of a total of 670 thousand young people not attending any form of education had a job. Only a minority of the remaining almost 150 thousand, namely 57 thousand, were actively looking for a job.

15-24 year-olds not in education by position on the labour market, 2003

Stable labour market, rising unemployment

Since 2001 the total number of young people in the age category 15-24 has risen by 35 thousand. The number of pupils and students rose by a similar number. Thus, the supply of young people on the labour market remained stable. As the labour demand for young people declined because of the recession, the number of working people in this age category dropped by 20 thousand and unemployment rose by the same number. Over half a million young people not attending education had a job and 57 thousand were actively looking for a job.

Unemployment among pupils and students

In May and June many pupils and students look for a holiday job. In addition, many young people seek to work alongside their studies. Thus the number of unemployed pupils and students averaged 40 thousand in 2003. Total unemployment among young people amounted to nearly 97 thousand.

Unemployed 15-24 year-olds not in education, 2001-2003

No school, no work

In 2003 more than 90 thousand young people were not attending any form of education and were not active on the labour market. One in three in this group said they wanted to work, although they were not actively looking for a job. Those who were not readily available for the labour market are not included in the unemployed labour force.

A further 60 thousand young people did not want to work for reasons varying from being on holiday to having to care for the family or illness.

Tanja Traag