Number of jobs plummets

The number of jobs of employees was 72 thousand (0.9 percent) lower in the second quarter of 2009 than one year previously. A four-year period of continuous job growth has now come to an end.

The most substantial drop occurred in the sector business services and almost entirely concerns temp jobs. Other parts of the private sector, such as manufacturing industry, construction, hotels and restaurants and transport, also faced loss of jobs. In the public sector, on the other hand, healthcare and welfare accounted for an increase in jobs.

The total number of jobs of employees (full-time and part-time) in the Netherlands amounted to nearly 8 million, corresponding to nearly 6 million full-time jobs in the second quarter of 2009.

Employment is obviously subject to seasonal variation. After adjustment for seasonal effects, the number of jobs in the second quarter was 0.7 percent down on the preceding quarter.

Wages and salaries of employees per labour year were 2.6 percent higher in the second quarter than one year previously. In the first quarter the increase was 1.7 percent. Wage costs per labour year, including employers’ contributions, rose at the same rate as wages (2.6 percent).

Growth rate jobs and economic growth