Unemployment slightly down in September-November

In the period September-November, the seasonally adjusted unemployment figure in the Netherlands stood at 406 thousand, a reduction by 5 thousand relative to the period August-October 2006.

In the period ranging from April-June of 2005 to April-June 2006, seasonally adjusted unemployment was reduced each month. In the summer of 2006, the number of unemployed varied between 404 and 414 thousand and subsequently began to fall again.

In the period September-November, the number of unemployed was 69 thousand down on the same period last year. This is primarily due to the number of male 25 to 45-year-olds who managed to find a job. One year ago, 6.2 percent of the entire labour force were unemployed. The current unemployment rate is 5.2 percent. 

Unemployment, seasonally adjusted