Unemployment hardly changed

In the period January-March 2007, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the Netherlands stood at 379 thousand. This is more or less equal to average in the two preceding three-month periods. In previous months, however, seasonally adjusted unemployment showed a clear decrease. 

Compared to the same period one year previously, unemployment was 59 thousand down in January-March. Unemployment among both 15-24 year-olds and 25-44 year-olds fell by most. On the other hand, the number of unemployed over-45 year-olds practically equalled the number in January-March 2007.

Just as in preceding periods, the most substantial decrease in unemployment was observed among men. The decrease in female unemployment was offset by the large number of women entering the labour market.

The male unemployment rate dropped by 1.1 percent point on the same period twelve months previously and stood at 4.2 percent. In the period January-March, 6.7 percent of the female labour force were unemployed. This is 0.7 of a percent point down on the same period last year.

In relative terms, the highest unemployment rate is still for young people. Just over 10 percent of  the 15-24 year-old labour force are unemployed, compared with less than 5 percent of the remaining labour force.

Unemployment, seasonally adjusted