Youth unemployment rises in Netherlands; still better than 2014

The youth unemployment rate in the Netherlands increased slightly over the past six months, but is still below what it was last year. This is according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands on Wednesday. The youth unemployment rate reached its highest point since the start of the economic crisis in September 2013, when nearly 14 percent of the 15 to 25 year olds in the workforce were unemployed. It fell down to 10.8 percent in March 2015. In September the youth unemployment rate was 11.5 percent, slightly lower than in September last year. In the third quarter of this year a total 158 young people were unemployed - they had no paid work, but were actively looking for a job. Most of the unemployed youth are still studying or in school. Almost half of them are still underage and are looking for a job of about 12 hours a week. Almost 40 thousand of the unemployed youth are not in school anymore. About two thirds of them have graduated and are looking for a full time job. About 9 percent of young people who have left school are unemployed, a decrease of 2 percent compared to the last year.