Fewer people changed jobs in 2009

Between 2008 and 2009, 773 thousand people changed jobs, a decrease by more than 100 thousand relative to the period 2007-2008. Changing jobs often also implies a change of working environment. This occurred far less frequently in 2009.

Occupational mobility

People tend to stick to their jobs in times of economic insecurity

In total, 6.7 million people were working at least 12 hours a week in 2008 and 2009, of whom 773 thousand switched to another job. The occupational mobility rate is 11.5 percent. Between 2007 and 2008, 880 thousand people changed jobs. These figures prove that fewer people change jobs in times of economic insecurity. The downward trend is manifest across all occupational classes.

Occupational mobility by position in the working environment

Increase among self-employed

The occupational mobility rate declined almost to the same degree for people working on flexible and permanent contracts. The situation is different for self-employed. In this group, the proportion of job switchers rose from 6 to 7 percent. Self-employed more often start working for an employer instead of running their own business. This is probably due to the fact that more self-employed are facing hard times during an economic recession.

Occupational mobility and change of working environment

Fewer people switch to anther working environment

The majority of job switchers also change of working environment. Between 2008 and 2009, 317 thousand people accepted another job without leaving the organisation they were working for and 455 thousand people accepted a new job in a new working environment. This last category has declined dramatically. Between 2007 and 2008, 538 thousand persons started working in a new job and in a new working environment.

Doreen Ewalds and Robert de Vries