Marginal unemployment growth
- Unemployment growth 2 thousand in September
- Unemployment growth levels off
- Number of unemployment benefits stable
- Fewer unemployment benefits granted in construction sector
According to the most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands, seasonally adjusted unemployment grew by 2 thousand in September to reach 685 thousand, i.e. 8.6 percent of the labour force.
Figures published by the Institute for Implementation of Employees’ Insurances (UWV) show that the number of unemployment (WW) benefits paid in September has risen by 1 thousand to 400 thousand.
Unemployment growth rate slows down
The monthly unemployment growth over the past three months averaged 3 thousand. Unemployment grew far less rapidly than in the first six months of 2013, when unemployment increased each month by 17 thousand.
In September, 8.6 percent in the Dutch labour force were unemployed, the same percentage as in August. With 16.5 percent, the highest unemployment rate is recorded among young people. The rates among 25 to 44-year-olds and over-45s were 7.9 en 7.4 percent respectively.
Unemployment in the Netherlands according to the definition used by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was 7.0 percent of the labour force in September, the same as in August.
More WW benefits granted to over-55s
More than more than 400 thousand WW benefits were granted in September, approximately as many as in August and nearly 100 thousand more than in September last year. The number of benefits paid to unemployed construction workers declined for the second month in a row. The number of benefits granted to people under the age 45 was also reduced, but the number of benefits granted to over-55s increased by 1.3 percent to 104 thousand.
In September this year, 45 thousand new WW benefits were granted and 44 thousand were terminated due to resumption of work.
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