Employment marginally down

The number of people in paid employment has fallen by 13 thousand over the past three months. Fewer women hold paid jobs and more women are unemployed. Altogether, 6.8 percent of the labour force (606 thousand individuals) were unemployed in November, about as many as three months ago, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

UWV: Marginal increase in unemployment benefits

In November this year, 427 thousand unemployment benefits were granted, i.e. 6 thousand more than in October 2015 and a marginal increase relative November 2014. Just as last month, sectors subject to seasonal variation, like agriculture and hotels and restaurants, predominantly accounted for the increase. Because many young people are employed in these sectors, the number of unemployment benefits to young people has shown a relatively strong increase. In various sectors, including education, the number of unemployment benefits declined in November.

Female unemployment up

The number of employed women has grown for more than a year, but over the past three months the female share in the employed labour force has declined by 18 thousand (adjusted for seasonal effects). Simultaneously, unemployment among women was growing. Since the beginning of this year, unemployment has decreased among both genders, but since August, the share of unemployed women in the labour force has been on an upward trend.

In November, 7.4 percent in the female population were unemployed, versus 7.1 percent in August. With 6.3 percent, the unemployment rate among men was in fact lower in November than three months ago.

8.3 million people in paid employment

The 15 to 74-year-old population in the Netherlands comprises 12.7 million individuals. In November, 65.3 percent or 8.3 million people (4.5 million men and 3.8 million women) had paid jobs. Another 606 thousand were unemployed. During the past three months, unemployment has risen by an average of one thousand a month, whereas unemployment declined over the period February-July.

The remaining 3.8 million people in the age category 15-74 are not included in the labour force: they had no work, were not looking for jobs or not immediately available for the labour market. With 2.2 million, women constitute the majority in this group.

UWV: Fewer unemployment benefits paid to young people and men in 2015

In the period January-November 2015, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) issued 522 thousand new unemployment benefits, 4.8 percent down from the same period last year. The number of new unemployment benefits issued to under-25s and men fell by nearly 14 and 8 percent respectively relative to 2014. The number of new unemployment benefits only grew among over-55s. UWV reports that it is declining across nearly all sectors apart from the transport and storage sector, large retail distributors and the sector health care and welfare. These sectors showed a significant increase in new unemployment benefits in 2015.