Employment falls further

The number of jobs of employees was 121 thousand (1.5 percent) lower in the first quarter of 2013 than in the same period one year previously. It is the fifth consecutive quarter that the number of jobs was lower than twelve months previously. The number of jobs lost is growing each quarter.

Job numbers fell across the board. With a reduction of 28 thousand jobs, the construction sector was hit hardest. Employment was also considerably down in the business services, trade, transport, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing industry, education and public administration sectors.

Growth rate of jobs and economic growth

Overall, there were nearly 7.7 million full-time plus part-time employee jobs in the Netherlands. The number of labour years (the number of jobs converted to full-time equivalents) was over 5.7 million, i.e. 1.7 percent down from the first quarter of 2012. Labour volume fell for the fifth quarter in a row.

If seasonal effects are taken into account, the number of jobs in the first quarter of 2013 was 51 thousand (0.6 percent) down from the fourth quarter of 2012.

In the first quarter, wages per labour year were 2.0 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2012. The wage increase was larger than in the 1.1 percent rise measured in the fourth quarter of 2012. 

Jobs of employees, seasonally adjusted

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.

For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.