Unemployment unchanged at 3.7 percent in December

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© ANP / Anton Kappers
Unemployment stood at 373 thousand in December 2024. That is 3.7 percent of the labour force, the same as in the four previous months. The number of people in paid employment has risen by an average of 12 thousand per month over the past three months, reaching 9.8 million in December. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on newly released figures. The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) recorded 175 thousand current unemployment (WW) benefits at the end of December.

Around 3.6 million people aged 15 to 74 were not in paid employment in December 2024. In addition to the 373 thousand people who were unemployed, 3.2 million people were not actively seeking work or not immediately available for work. Many of these are retirees and people who are unable to work due to illness or occupational disability. These people are not counted as part of the labour force. Averaged over the past three months, the number of people outside the labour force has risen by 2 thousand per month. Unemployment declined by 1 thousand per month, on average.

Changes in labour force composition, December 2024, average change over 3 months Population, 15 to 74 yrs, private households13.4 million. Change: +10 thousand p/m. Not included in labour force: 3.2 million. Change: -2 thousand p/m. Labour fource: 10.2 million. Change: +11 thousand p/m. Unemployed labour force : 373 thousand. Change: -1 thousand p/m. Employed labour force: 9.8 million. Change: +12 thousand p/m. Employed labour force 9.8 million +12 thousand p/m Unemployed labour force 373 thousand –1 thousand p/m Labour fource 10.2 million +11 thousand p/m Not included in labour force 3.2 million –2 thousand p/m Population, 15 to 74 yrs, private households 13.4 million +10 thousand p/m Changes in labour force composition December 2024, average change over 3 months

Slight recovery in labour force participation in November and December

The net labour participation rate was 73.1 percent in December. In June 2024, that was 73.4 percent of those of working age (15 to 74 years), but had fallen to 72.8 percent by October. Over the past two months, the labour force participation rate increased slightly again, however. The labour participation rate rose the most rapidly among young people.

UWV: number of unemployment benefits fell by 1.7 thousand in December

In December 2024, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) issued 174.8 thousand WW benefits. That was 1.7 thousand fewer than at the end of November (176.6 thousand). In December, 20.2 thousand benefits were terminated, while 18.4 thousand new benefits were granted. Compared to a year ago, the number of unemployment benefits was 8.7 percent higher at the end of December. The number of unemployment benefits fluctuated between 164 thousand (July) and 179 thousand (October) over the past 12 months.

UWV: fewer benefits in construction and employment agencies, in particular

In December, the number of unemployment benefits declined the most in construction (-5.9 percent), employment agencies (-5.1 percent), agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector (-4.2 percent) and banking and insurance (both -3.9 percent). Sectors with the largest increase in the number of recipients of unemployment benefit compared to last December are the metal industry, installation, vehicles (+25.3 percent), the public sector (+23.6 percent), education (+20.0 percent), the food, beverages and tobacco industry (+19.9 percent) and the chemical industry (+18.9 percent).

Fewer people becoming unemployed than are finding employment

Trends in unemployment are the result of underlying movements between those in employment, the unemployed and those who are not part of the labour force. This is visualised in the chart below. The graph below the chart shows the changes in these different flows over the past few years.

Labour market flows, Seasonally adjusted; changes relative to 3 months previously – december 2024 203000 of those not incluced in the labour force join the labour market and find a job. 195000 of the employed labour force quit their jobs and leave the labour market. 118000 of those not included in the labour force start looking for work. 144000 of the unemployed labour force find a job. 114000 of the employed labour force become unemployed. 92000 of the unemployed labour force are no longer looking for work. Not included in labour force Employed labour force Unemployed labour force Are no longer looking for work Quit their jobs, leave the labour market Join the labour market, find a job Start looking for work Become unemployed Find a job Labour market flows Seasonally adjusted; changes relative to 3 months previously, december 2024 118,000 92,000 195,000 203,000 144,000 114,000

 

Unemployment can increase or decrease due to four different changes in people’s circumstances. Two of these can lead to lower unemployment. The first change occurs when an unemployed person finds a job. The second change occurs when an unemployed person stops seeking work and leaves the labour market. In December, there were 236 thousand people who had been unemployed three months earlier.

There are also two changes that can lead to higher unemployment. The first happens when an employed person loses their job and the second when a person who was previously unavailable for work decides to seek employment. If people in these groups do not find work immediately, they become part of the unemployed labour force. The total number of people who became unemployed in November was, at 232 thousand, lower than the number who ceased to be unemployed, at 236 thousand.

As a result, the number of unemployed persons fell slightly, by an average of 1 thousand per month over the past three months.

 

Every month, CBS publishes figures on the labour force in accordance with guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The corresponding indicators, i.e. the employed and unemployed labour force, are used around the world to describe cyclical developments on the labour market. Monthly figures are essential in this respect. In addition, UWV issues its own monthly figures on unemployment benefit. The figures released by UWV do not correspond directly with the labour force indicators. For more details on the different sources, see our technical explanation<link naar toelichting> (Dutch only).