Modest job growth

In the fourth quarter of 2011, the number of jobs of employees was 34 thousand up from the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase by 0.4 percent. Employment improved considerably in the sectors trade, transport, hotels and restaurants, health care and welfare and business services, but many jobs were lost in public administration.

Employment is obviously subject to seasonal variation. After correction for seasonal effects, the number of jobs was 19 thousand up on the third quarter.

Altogether (full-time plus part-time jobs), there were over 7.9 million employee jobs in the Netherlands. Converted to full-time equivalents, there were 5.9 million jobs in the fourth quarter, a 0.2 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2010.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, wages of employees per working year were 1.3 percent up on one year previously. The wage increase was far below the level of inflation.

Growth rate jobs and economic growth

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.