However, the number of workers in the Netherlands continues to increase. In the 15-75 age group, this group has increased further in the past three months, averaging 38,000 per month to reach 9.5 million. During the same period, the number of unemployed decreased by an average of 13,000 per month: in April there were 316,000 unemployed, which is 3.2% of the working population. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on the latest numbers.
At the end of April, the UWV recorded 175,000 current unemployment benefits. In April, 3.7 million people between the ages of 15 and 75 were out of paid work for a variety of reasons. In addition to the unemployed, there were 3.3 million people who had not recently sought work or were not immediately available for work. They are not counted as part of the working population.
In the past three months, the non-working population has fallen by an average of 20,000 per month to the lowest number since June 2009. It mainly concerns people who are retired or unable to work due to illness or disability.
Usually the elderly
Of the 3.3 million people who are not in the working population, they are between 45 and 75 years old. Since the beginning of the monthly series of numbers in 2003, their number has ranged between 2.5 million and 2.7 million. With just over 2.5 million, there’s never before been as few as last month.
The most frequent reason for those over 45 not working is retirement or old age, followed by illness or disability. The main reason why young people do not work is because they are pursuing education or studying. In the case of people between the ages of 25 and 45, it is often related to illness or inability to work or care for the family.
