Unemployment further up

  • Unemployment growth 131 thousand in one year
  • Men account for nearly two thirds of the increase
  • UWV records rapid increase in job seekers in technical and administrative occupations
  • Unemployment benefits up by more than three quarters

According to the most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands, an average of 430 thousand persons were unemployed in the period November 2009-January 2010, i.e. 5.6 percent of the labour force, as against 3.9 percent one year previously.
Figures from the Institute for Implementation of Employee Insurance Schemes (UWV) show that, relative to one year previously, the number of unemployed job seekers grew most rapidly in January 2010 in lower and medium-level technical jobs and higher administrative jobs. The amount of current unemployment benefits has increased by more than three quarters compared to twelve months ago.

Monthly increase 10 thousand over the past six months

Unemployment adjusted for seasonal variation stood at 435 thousand in the period November 2009-January 2010, an increase by 11 thousand compared to the preceding three-monthly period. As unemployment is calculated by means of a sample survey, more accurate and reliable figures can be obtained by monitoring over a longer period of time. Over the past six months, unemployment rose by an average of approximately 10 thousand a month.

In the period November 2009-January 2010, unemployment was 131 thousand higher than in the period November 2008-January 2009. Nearly two thirds of the increase concerned men.

Considerable growth job seekers in technical and administrative occupations

The number of unemployed job seekers registered by the UWV grew by 14 thousand to 522 thousand in January 2010. Their number rose by 78 thousand (18 percent) relative to twelve months previously. The number of people looking for lower or medium-level technical jobs − predominantly in the construction sector − and administrative jobs at higher level increased above average. The amount of young unemployed job seekers rocketed by nearly 60 percent in the span of one year.

Unemployment benefits up by 140 thousand

At the end of January 2010, the number of current unemployment benefits recorded by the UWV stood at 323 thousand, i.e. 140 thousand more than one year ago. It partly concerned part-time unemployment benefits. In January, the number of unemployment benefits grew by nearly 51 thousand and 37  thousand part-time benefits were terminated, in nearly half of cases, because work was resumed early 2010.

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