Unemployment up in February

These are the most recent figures on this topic. View the previous figures here.
© ANP / Peter Hilz
Unemployment stood at 392 thousand in February 2025. The highest increase in unemployment was seen among those aged 25 to 44. The number of people unemployed increased by a monthly average of 7 thousand over the past three months. As a result, the unemployment rate amounted to 3.8 percent in February, the same as in January when it rose for the first time in five months. The number of people in paid employment has also risen by an average of 6 thousand per month over the past three months. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on newly released figures. The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) recorded 190 thousand current unemployment (WW) benefits at the end of February.

In addition to the 392 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 fallen by 11 thousand per month.

Changes in labour force composition, February 2025, average change over 3 months Population, 15 to 74 yrs, private households13.4 million. Change: +2 thousand p/m. Not included in labour force: 3.2 million. Change: -11 thousand p/m. Labour fource: 10.2 million. Change: +13 thousand p/m. Unemployed labour force : 392 thousand. Change: +7 thousand p/m. Employed labour force: 9.8 million. Change: +6 thousand p/m. Employed labour force 9.8 million +6 thousand p/m Unemployed labour force 392 thousand +7 thousand p/m Labour fource 10.2 million +13 thousand p/m Not included in labour force 3.2 million –11 thousand p/m Population, 15 to 74 yrs, private households 13.4 million +2 thousand p/m Changes in labour force composition February 2025, average change over 3 months

UWV: slight change in number of recipients of unemployment benefit

At the end of February, the UWV issued 189.6 thousand unemployment benefits. This put the number of recipients only slightly higher than in the previous month (up by 0.1 percent). In February, 22.2 thousand new unemployment benefits were granted and 22 thousand benefits were terminated.

UWV: small differences between sectors

There were, however, slight differences between the sectors. Compared to January, the highest increases in the number of recipients of unemployment benefit in February were in retail trade (+1.7 percent), government (+1.4 percent) and other manufacturing (+1.1 percent). There were also sectors in which the number decreased. These include education (-1.7 percent), agriculture, forestry and fishing (-1.5 percent) and the chemical industry (-1.3 percent), but it involves only small numbers.

Increase in unemployment among people aged 25 and above

The percentage of unemployed people in the labour force aged 25 to 44 rose from 3.1 in January to 3.3 in February. That was the highest rate of unemployment seen for this age group since September 2021. Since 2020, an increasing share of the labour force has been made up of people aged 25 to 44 <link to satellite report>.

Unemployment also rose slightly among those aged 45 and over, to 2.3 percent. Nevertheless, it was highest among young people aged 15 to 24, at 8.8 percent. That represents a slight decline compared to January. However, this percentage increased gradually over the past two years. This was 7.6 percent and 8.7 percent in 2024, on average.


More people seeking work

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 – februari 2025 196000 of those not incluced in the labour force join the labour market and find a job. 199000 of the employed labour force quit their jobs and leave the labour market. 126000 of those not included in the labour force start looking for work. 136000 of the unemployed labour force find a job. 115000 of the employed labour force become unemployed. 85000 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, februari 2025 126,000 85,000 199,000 196,000 136,000 115,000


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 February, there were 221 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 was higher in February at 241 thousand than the number of unemployed who found work or exited into the nonworking population (221 thousand). As a result, the number of unemployed persons rose, by an average of 7 thousand per month over the past three months. This was mainly due to an increase in the number of people who started seeking work from the nonworking population, did not find work immediately was larger than the number of people who stopped seeking work.

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.

Sources

Related items