Unemployment increasing further

Adjusted for seasonal variation, 552 thousand people in the Netherlands were unemployed in November, an increase by 16 thousand relative to October. Currently, 7.0 percent of the Dutch labour force are unemployed, as against 5.8 percent twelve months previously.

The male unemployment rate was 6.8 in November versus 7.2 percent for women.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment

Seasonally adjusted unemployment

Results from the Consumer confidence survey show that, over the past three months, Dutch consumers have become much more pessimistic about future unemployment. In December, 87 percent anticipated unemployment to rise over the next twelve months, whereas more than 4 percent anticipated a reduction. Consumers have not been this negative since March 2009.

Consumers’ expectations about unemployment over the next 12 months

Consumers’ expectations about unemployment over the next 12 months

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.

For more information on economic indicators, see the Economic Monitor.