Number of jobs up by 28 thousand

In the third quarter of 2011, the number of jobs of employees was 28 thousand higher than in the same quarter of 2010, an increase by 0.3 percent. Employment improved considerably in the sectors trade, transport, hotels and restaurants and health care and welfare, but in public administration, construction, manufacturing industry and education the number of jobs declined relative to one year previously.

Employment is obviously subject to seasonal variation. After correction for seasonal effects, the number of jobs was 7 thousand down on the second quarter.

Altogether (full-time plus part-time jobs), there were over 7.9 million employee jobs in the Netherlands. Converted to full-time equivalents, there were 5.9 million jobs in the third quarter, an increase by 0.1 percent from the same period last year.

In the third quarter of 2011, wages per working year were 1.3 percent higher than one year previously. The wage increase was far below the level of inflation. With 1.5 percent, the rise of total wage costs per working year was marginally higher than the wage increase, due to higher employers’ contributions to unemployment and health insurance schemes.

Growth rate jobs and economic growth

Growth rate jobs and economic growth

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.