Further increase hours worked in temp jobs
Adjusted for seasonal variation, the total amount of hours worked in temp jobs increased by 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2014 relative to the preceding quarter. The number of hours worked in temp jobs increased for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to Statistics Netherlands. Statistics Netherlands announced earlier that the number of jobs of employees in the business services sector had increased in the first quarter as a result of the growing demand for temps.
More flexible jobs
The total amount of hours worked in temp jobs has grown for twelve months now, but the growth rate slowed down in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the preceding quarters. A higher demand for temporary workers does not necessarily result in an increase in employment. The current situation on the labour market shows that more permanent jobs are converted to flexible jobs.
Hours worked in temp jobs
As yet the labour market shows no sign of recovery
Usually, an increase in the amount of hours worked in temp jobs provides a first indication of recovery on the labour market, but this is not corroborated by other labour-market related figures released by Statistics Netherlands. Seasonally adjusted unemployment increased further in April and remains high (8.7 percent in the Dutch labour force).The total amount of jobs of employees declined further in the first quarter. On the other hand, the number of job vacancies grew for the third consecutive quarter. The labour market also became more dynamic in the first quarter: the number of new and filled vacancies increased substantially relative to one year previously.
For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.