Marginal increase in number of job openings

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, the number of job openings rose marginally in the second quarter of 2007. Adjusted for seasonal effects, there were 225 thousand unfilled vacancies at the end of June. This is an increase by 8 thousand relative to the previous quarter.

Limited growth over past three quarters

At the end of September 2003, the number of unfilled vacancies reached its lowest level and subsequently began to rise. Between the end of September 2003 and the end of September 2006, the number of job openings rose from 90 to 219 thousand. The average quaterly increase was 11 thousand. Since the end of September 2006, the net increase has been very small.

Increase mainly in manufacturing industry and construction

The growth in job openings in the second quarter of 2007 was recorded mainly in the sectors manufacturing industry and construction. At the end of June this year, 44 thousand vacancies remained unfilled, 4 thousand more than in the previous quarter. In other sectors, vacancies increased only marginally or not at all between the first and second quarter of 2007. The number of job openings in manufacturing industry and construction almost tripled relative to the trough at the end of September 2003.

Labour market still very active

The number of new and filled vacancies has hardly changed. In the second quarter of this year, 282 thousand new vacancies were created, approximately the same amount as one year previously. The number of filled vacancies was 269 thousand in the second quarter, i.e. 10 thousand up on one year previously. Up to and including the first quarter of 2007, activities on the labour market had increased uninterruptedly for a period of three years.