Unemployment up in all provinces

Unemployment increased in all provinces in 2004. Groningen remains the province with the highest unemployment rate. Just like in previous years, Rotterdam is the city with the highest unemployment rate in the Netherlands. Nationwide, 6.4 percent of the labour force were unemployed in 2004, as against 5.3 percent in 2003.

Groningen province with the highest unemployment rate

The differences in unemployment rates among the various Dutch provinces are about the same as in the preceding years. Groningen has had a high unemployment rate for years; 8.5 percent of the labour force were unemployed in 2004. The provinces of Drenthe and Flevoland also had high unemployment rates.

Unemployment by province

Zeeland province with the lowest unemployment rate

Zeeland has had the lowest unemployment rate of all provinces for years. The unemployed labour force in Zeeland amounted to 5.0 percent in 2004. In the provinces of Utrecht and Gelderland unemployment was also below the national average. In Utrecht unemployment was relatively low, due to the high participation rate. The participation rate in Zeeland and Gelderland is somewhat below average but apparently it is easier for registered unemployed to find a job in these two provinces.

Urban unemployment rate highest in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has had the highest unemployment rate in the Netherlands for years. No less than one tenth of the Rotterdam labour force were unemployed in 2004. Unemployment was more than one and a half times the nationwide average. In Utrecht and The Hague the unemployment rate equalled the national average of over 6 percent in 2004.

Unemployment in the Netherlands and the four largest cities

Ingrid Beckers