Unemployment rate in the Netherlands unchanged at 3.7%

The unemployment rate in the Netherlands remained unchanged in December compared to the previous month, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. Around 3.7 percent of the working population did not have paid work last month, which is the same as in the previous four months. The number of unemployment benefits did decrease last month. This was mainly due to fewer benefits in the construction sector and temporary employment agencies.

In December, 3.6 million people between the ages of 15 and 75 did not have paid work. In addition to 373,000 unemployed people, 3.2 million have not recently looked for work or were not available to do so. They are not counted among the working population. These are mainly retirees who cannot work due to an illness or handicap.

This group of people decreased by an average of 2,000 people per month over the last three months, according to CBS. The number of unemployed people dropped by an average of 1,000 per month.

The UWV provided 174,800 unemployment benefits in December. This is a decrease of 1,700 compared to a month earlier. The number of unemployment benefits was 8.7 percent higher in December compared to the previous year. The number of benefits has been between 164,000 and 179,000.

The construction, temporary employment, agriculture, green industry, fishing, and the banking and insurance sectors saw the biggest decrease in unemployment benefits.

Metal, installation, vehicles, government, education, food and beverage, and the chemical industries had the most significant increase in unemployment benefits.