Unemployment further down

  • Number of unemployed marginally down
  • As many men as women unemployed
  • Fewer job seekers at lower occupational levels
  • Number of WW benefits down for the fifth month running

In July this year, 449 thousand people were unemployed, i.e. 5.7 percent of the Dutch labour force, as against 5.2 percent in July 2009. The most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands show that seasonally adjusted unemployment declined further.

Figures published by the Institute for Employment Benefit Schemes (UWV) show that the number of unemployed and the number of unemployment (WW) benefits declined marginally in July.

Unemployment down by 4 thousand

Unemployment adjusted for seasonal variation dropped by 4 thousand in July, approximately the same as in June. Unemployment has declined for the fifth month running now. Since March, the number of unemployed has dropped by an average of 5 thousand a month.

Male unemployment dropped considerably over the past months. In July this year, as many men as women (224 thousand) were unemployed.

Data, which have recently become available show that the situation on the labour market has improved somewhat in the second quarter of 2010. Unemployment decreased and at the same time the number of jobs increased. The number of unfilled vacancies remained stable.

More teachers looking for jobs

At the UWV Werkbedrijf, the number of unemployed job seekers (nww) declined by one thousand to 493 thousand. The decline exclusively concerned lower-level jobs. The number of job seekers rose above average in higher-level jobs, as a result of an increase in teaching and education-related professions, a recurrent phenomenon in summer.

Again fewer WW benefits

The number of current WW benefits has fallen for the fifth consecutive month. In July, the number of benefits fell by nearly 4 thousand to 285 thousand, although the number of WW benefits paid in July was still 26 thousand higher than in July last year. In the past month, 31 thousand new benefits were granted and 35 thousand WW benefits were terminated.

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