Fewer qualified young people unemployed

There were 111 thousand unemployed teenagers and young adults in the Netherlands in 2005. About 49 thousand of them were still in full-time education. The number of unemployed young people in education remained stable in 2005, while the number of unemployed young people who were no longer in education fell slightly. The latter applied only to the group with a basic qualification to start them off on the labour market.

Unemployment among students, too

Around two-thirds of the 1.9 million people aged between 15 and 25 years in the Netherlands were in education. Some pupils and students have a job of at least 12 hours alongside their studies, or are looking for one. This means that in 2005 around 49 thousand young people in education belonged to the unemployed labour force. In the group who were no longer in education, 62 thousand were unemployed.

Young people (15–24 years) by labour market status, 2005

Youth employment falls slightly in 2005

Although total unemployment in the Netherlands remained at the same level in 2005, youth unemployment fell slightly. Unemployment among 15-24 year-olds still in education hardly changed in 2005, following a steady increase up to 2004. At the same time, unemployment among 15-24 year-olds no longer in education fell slightly from 68 thousand in 2004 to 62 thousand in 2005. This had a downward effect on overall youth unemployment.

Youth unemployment by education status

Unemployment down for qualified youngsters

School-leavers with a basic qualification for the labour market, have a better chance of getting a job. Nearly 360 thousand of the 595 thousand 15-24 year-olds no longer in education had such a basic qualification in 2005. Unemployment in this group fell from 33 thousand in 2004 to 28 thousand in 2005. For their peers with no basic qualification on the other hand, unemployment remained at about the same level.

Youth unemployment among 15-24 year-olds not in education, by qualification

Tanja Traag