Unemployment climbs to 4 percent; Highest level in four years

Last month, 409,000 people in the Netherlands between the ages of 15 and 75 were unemployed. That brings the unemployment rate to 4.0 percent of the working population in September, the highest percentage in four years, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported on Thursday.

CBS considers someone unemployed if they have no paid work, are actively looking for work, and are available to start working immediately. The number of unemployed people has risen by an average of 8,000 people per month over the past three months.

In addition to the 409,000 unemployed, there were also 3.2 million non-working people who did not meet this criterion. This group primarily consists of people who are retired or unable to work due to illness or disability. They fall outside the working population. This group has decreased by an average of 9,000 per month over the past three months.

The number of people with paid employment increased by an average of 4,000 per month.

At the end of September, the benefits agency UWV paid out 187,400 unemployment benefits, about the same as the previous month. In September, 19,900 new benefits were added, and 19,900 unemployment benefits were terminated.

Compared to September last year, the number of active unemployment benefits increased by 15,100, an increase of 8.8 percent. Benefits increased in all sectors except for temporary employment agencies. The number of unemployment benefits increased most in the government (+24.4 percent) and other industry (+21.8 percent) sectors.

Unemployment is still the highest among young people aged 15 to 25 at 8.8 percent, though this decreased from 9.0 percent in September 2024. In the age group 25 to 45, unemployment increased from 3.1 percent to 3.4 percent. And among those aged 45 and over, it rose from 2.1 to 2.6 percent.