The unemployment rate in the Netherlands eased to around 4 percent in March, according to new figures from the national statistics office (CBS). This marks a slight improvement from February, when unemployment stood at just over 4 percent, and the highest level recorded in roughly four years.
Over the past three months, the number of people without work has been declining, roughly by a thousand per month. In total, over 400,000 people were unemployed. Employment has been rising at a slightly faster pace, with several thousand people becoming part of the paid work force.
Beyond the unemployed, the country also has over than three million people who are not currently seeking work or are unavailable to start immediately. This group consists largely of retirees and individuals unable to work due to long‑term illness or disability.
Benefits
The national benefits agency, UWV, reported just over 200,000 unemployment benefits at the end of March. During the same month, over twenty thousand new claims were filed, while around twenty‑five thousand were closed. This retained the total number of benefits stable at a level similar to January and February.
Most of the country’s 35 labour market regions saw a decline in benefit claims. Only a few areas, including South Limburg, Drechtsteden, and Helmond‑De Peel have recorded a small increase. Regions such as Food Valley, Drenthe, and Zeeland experienced the most notable decreases, reflecting a modest but broad‑based improvement in labour market conditions.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
