More employees find jobs

  • Job growth 34 thousand in fourth quarter on one year previously
  • Job growth continues in third quarter
  • Care sector and temp agencies contribute to job growth
  • Actual wage increase marginally higher than CAO wage increase
  • Wage costs 1.8 percent up

In the fourth quarter of last year, the number of jobs of employees grew by 34 thousand (0.4 percent) relative to the fourth quarter of 2009. For the first time in eighteen months, the number of jobs has grown on an annual basis. According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands, employment growth after adjustment for seasonal variation was 27 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2010.

Although employment growth in the private sector was still 16 thousand lower than one year previously, the decline was much smaller than in the preceding quarters. The decrease is fairly substantial in the sectors financial institutions and construction, but the number of jobs increased in the sectors trade and hotels and restaurants.

With 50 thousand more jobs than one year ago, employment growth in the sector non-commercial services continued. The care sector contributed most (47 thousand jobs). Employment also grew marginally on last year in the sectors public administration and education.

After correction for seasonal variation, employment growth on the third quarter was 0.3 percent. Employment grew for the third consecutive quarter. Growth in the fourth quarter was somewhat higher than in the third quarter. Temp jobs contributed most to the growth. During the first stage of economic recovery, employers often prefer to hire temp workers. Job growth in the care sector also continued.

Wages of employees per labour year were 1.5 percent higher in the fourth quarter than in the fourth quarter of 2009. The wage increase was a bit higher than the increase in collectively negotiated (CAO) wages of 1.1 percent. The sharpest increase was recorded in the sector non-commercial services, partly due to higher end-of-year bonuses in the government sector. Job promotions and various other variable remuneration elements, like bonuses, commissions and overtime payments had no noticeable effect on wages.

Wage costs per labour year, which include employers’ contributions, rose more rapidly (1.8 percent) than wages, because employers had to pay more for unemployment and health insurance provisions.