298 thousand unemployed
In the period June-August 2008, unemployment, adjusted for seasonal variation was 298 thousand, the same amount as in the previous three-monthly period May-July. The number of unemployed is still at the lowest level since 2002. Over the past six months, unemployment fell by an average of approximately 3 thousand a month.
Unemployment over the period June-August was 48 thousand down on the same period last year. The most substantial decline was recorded in the 25-44 age category. Unemployment also diminished among under-25s and over-45s. Female unemployment dropped more rapidly than male unemployment.
An average 3.8 percent of the total Dutch labour force were unemployed in the period June-August, as against 4.4 percent in the period June-August 2007. A gender breakdown shows that 4.6 percent of the female labour force were unemployed versus 3.1 percent of the male labour force.
