Drenthe's economy suffered most during recession

The economy in the province of Drenthe deteriorated most during the recession period 2008-2012, the province of North Brabant performed best in the face of the recession. The sectors manufacturing industry and public administration in particular performed poorly in Drenthe.

North Brabant performed best in the face of the recession

In the period 2008-2012, the economy in Drenthe showed the poorest results of all Dutch provinces with a negative growth rate of 4.3 percent. The Dutch economy shrank by 2.6 percent during this period. In North Brabant, the gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 1.5 percent, the best result of all provinces.

GDP, 2008-2012

Drenthe: manufacturing industry and public administration perform poorly

The presence of a very large construction sector - the sector which suffered most during the period 2008-2012 - might account for the poor economic results found in some provinces. Another reason may be a relatively small care sector, but these factors do not provide an adequate explanation for the vast difference in economic growth between Drenthe and North Brabant. The poor results of the sector manufacturing industry in Drenthe were a decisive factor. The sector manufacturing industry is relatively large in Drenthe and shrank by 6 percent, i.e. much more than the nationwide average. The sector public administration (-4.4 percent) also contributed to the negative growth in Drenthe. On the national level, the sector public administration grew.

Value added by sector, 2008-2012

North Brabant: smaller decline in most sectors

Many sectors in North Brabant showed decline, but the decline was often below or growth was marginally above the national average. Rental of moveable property and information and communication declined, but below average and public administration and care improved above average. Just as in Drenthe, manufacturing industry is a relatively large sector in North Brabant, but unlike in Drenthe, the decline of manufacturing industry in North Brabant was the same as on the national level.

Hans Langenberg