Number of job vacancies continues to grow

At the end of March 2014, there were nearly 104 thousand job vacancies, versus nearly 97 thousand at the end of December 2013. The number of job vacancies increased for the third quarter in a row. Vacancy figures are adjusted for seasonal variation. The number of job vacancies grew most rapidly in the private sector. In the public sector, it rose only marginally. At the end of March, there were 95 thousand open vacancies in the private sector versus 9 thousand in the public sector.

The vacancy rate, defined as the number of vacancies per one thousand jobs, is an indicator for the tension on the labour market. The vacancy rate increased to 14 at the end of March, compared with 12 in the three preceding quarters. The vacancy rate is not adjusted for seasonal variation.

The labour market was more dynamic than in the first quarter of 2013. There were 174 thousand new vacancies, i.e. 21 thousand more than one year previously, and the number of filled vacancies filled also grew: from 150 thousand to 159 thousand.

Statistics Netherlands published these quarterly figures on job vacancies on 15 May 2014.

Job vacancies, seasonally adjusted

Job vacancies, seasonally adjusted

Positive trend job vacancies in private sector

The monthly vacancy indicator provides a quick indication of the trend in job vacancies in the private sector, based on the opinions of Dutch entrepreneurs. In June, the indicator improved further. The mood was positive for the third month running. Currently, optimism also prevails in the sector commercial services. In the sectors manufacturing industry and construction, optimists already outnumbered pessimists.

Vacancy indicator

Vacancy indicator

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.

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