Unemployment virtually unchanged
Seasonally adjusted unemployment in the Netherlands averaged 413 thousand in the period November 2005-January 2006. This is about the same as in July-September, when unemployment was still on the increase.
Since the summer of 2006, seasonally corrected unemployment was not reduced further. The number of unemployed persons ranged between 405 and 416 thousand. In the previous twelve months, unemployment had fallen rapidly.
Compared to one year ago, the number of unemployed is markedly lower. In the period August-October, unemployment was 66 thousand down on the same period last year. This corresponds to a reduction of the unemployed labour force from 6.1 to 5.2 percent. In the past twelve months, unemployment has always been lower than in the same period one year previously.
Unemployment is relatively highest among young people aged 15-24. In this age category, 10.1 percent were unemployed in the period August-October. The rates for 25 to 44-year-olds and over-45s were 4.4 and 4.8 percent respectively.
