Employment decline

The number of jobs of employees was 156 thousand lower in the first quarter of 2010 than in the first quarter of 2009; a decline by 2.0 percent. In the third as well as the fourth quarter of 2009, the number of jobs fell by 1.8 percent.

The sector business services faced the most substantial job loss. Temp agencies in particular saw employment fall, but he number of jobs in the sectors manufacturing industry, construction, trade and transport and financial institutions was also lower than in the first quarter of 2009. Employment in health care and public administration, on the other hand, increased. 

The number of jobs of employees in the Netherlands (full-time plus part-time jobs)  totalled 7.7 million in the first quarter of 2010, i.e. 5.8 million jobs converted to full-time equivalents. The decline relative to the first quarter of 2009 was 126 thousand.

Employment is clearly subject to seasonal variation. After adjustment for these effects, the number of jobs in the first quarter was 0.7 percent down on the fourth quarter of 2009. Employment fell for the fifth consecutive quarter. The decrease in the first quarter of 2010 was more substantial than in preceding quarters.

Growth rate jobs and economic growth