Unemployment up in July

Seasonally adjusted unemployment in the Netherlands was 413 thousand in July, i.e. 22 thousand above the level in the preceding month. In the first six months of 2011, unemployment hovered around 395 thousand.

Unemployment among both genders increased by approximately 10 thousand. The increase was also evenly distributed over the age categories 15-24, 25-44 and 45-64.

The unemployment rate in the Dutch labour force was 5.3 percent in July, an increase by 0.3 percentage points from one year previously. Male unemployment was marginally below average, female unemployment was just above average. The unemployment rate in the Netherlands is among the lowest in the European Union.

Statistics Netherlands’ Consumer confidence survey provides information on consumers’ expectations about future unemployment. Consumers were much more pessimistic in August. Four in ten anticipated unemployment to increase over the next twelve months.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.