Unemployment stable

In the period July-September 2005 the number of unemployed people averaged 478 thousand in the Netherlands. The seasonally adjusted figure for the unemployed labour force was 489 thousand, the same as in June-August 2005.

Unemployment has been stable over a fairly long period. The seasonally adjusted unemployment figure during the first six months of 2005 was around 490 thousand. At the end of 2004 the number of unemployed increased by an average of several thousand a month.

Dutch unemployment in the third quarter of 2005 was up over 21 thousand on the third quarter of 2004. More than half of the increase consisted of women aged over 45.

In the third quarter of 2005 an average 6.4 percent of the Dutch labour force was unemployed. A year before this was 6.1 percent. With 13.5 percent, unemployment was highest among people aged 15-24.

Unemployment, seasonally adjusted