nuSep 17, 2026, 05:27

Unemployment remains virtually unchanged at 4 percent in August

Unemployment in the Netherlands held steady at 4 percent in August, continuing a slow upward trend that began in early 2023. While the number of active unemployment benefits rose slightly, the broader labor force statistics remain relatively stable.

The unemployment rate in the Netherlands remained stable at 4 percent throughout August, mirroring the figures reported in July. This follows a slight increase from 3.8 percent in June, continuing a gradual upward trend that has been observed since the beginning of 2023. Currently, the total number of unemployed individuals has risen to 408,000, compared to 343,000 in April 2023. The labor market dynamics show a marginal average increase in joblessness of 3,000 people per month over the last quarter, while the number of people in paid employment decreased slightly by an average of 1,000 monthly.

In addition to these figures, the UWV reported 194,800 active unemployment benefits by the end of August, representing a 1.4 percent increase from the previous month. While 24,200 new benefits were initiated, 23,600 were terminated during the same period. Meanwhile, the number of people outside the labor force remains steady at approximately 3.2 million, consisting largely of retirees and those unable to work due to illness or disability.

Economy Business Netherlands

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Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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