Further rise in unemployment

In the period January-March 2009, seasonally adjusted unemployment stood at 317 thousand, an increase by 9 thousand relative to the period December 2008-February 2009. In the preceding period, unemployment rose by an average of nearly 4 thousand.

In the period January-March, unemployment was 5 thousand up on the same period one year previously. The number of unemployed women was lower than twelve months previously. The same applies to the number of unemployed men above the age of 45. Unemployment among 15 to 44-year-old men, on the other hand, increased.

An average of  4.4 percent of the total Dutch labour force were unemployed. The highest rate was recorded among young unemployed (aged between 15 and 25), of whom 10.3 percent were jobless. This is nearly three times as high as in the age categories 25 to 45 and 45 to 65.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment