Fewer social security recipients find employment

At the end of 2011, 367 thousand people in the Netherlands received social security benefits. More than 28 thousand, i.e. less than 8 percent, found jobs in 2012, versus more than 9 percent one year previously. In the category municipalities with a population exceeding 100 thousand, Zoetermeer has the highest percentage of individuals moving from social security to employment, Arnhem has the lowest percentage.

2012 difficult year to move from social security to employment

Since the lowest level of the recession was reached in 2009, the proportion of social security recipients who found employment has not been this low: 15 percent of social security recipients found employee jobs in 2007, versus just under 8 percent in 2012. The marginally upward trend observed in 2010 and 2011 has been discontinued.

Social security recipients who found work

Young people less often from social security to employment

The proportion of people who managed to find employment declined across all age categories in 2012. The most substantial decline was recorded among under-25s. Last year, one in five young social security recipients under the age of 25 moved from social security to employment, the ratio for 2011 was nearly one in three. As people get older, the chance of finding work diminishes. This applies in particular to older individuals who have lived on social security for a long time and tend to be more detached from the labour market.

Social security recipients (end of 2011) who found employment in 2012

14 percent of social security recipients in Zoetermeer found employment

With 14 percent, Zoetermeer had the highest proportion of people moving from social security to employment in the category of municipalities with a population over 100 thousand. With 12 percent, the municipality of Zaanstad also performed well in this respect. With 5 percent, the municipality of Arnhem was at the bottom of the list. In the category of municipalities with a population ranging between 50 thousand and 100 thousand, the municipality of Barneveld performed best with 13 percent.

Municipalities with a population of more than 100 thousand have the highest and the lowest share of social security recipients  who found employment in 2012

Marieke Bosch