Dutch unemployment holds at 4.0% in September, with 408,000 people out of work
Unemployment in the Netherlands has risen by an average of 5,000 a month over three months, and unemployment benefit claims reached 197,100 at the end of September.
In September 2026, 408,000 people in the Netherlands were unemployed, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The unemployment rate was 4.0%, the same as in August. The number of unemployed has risen by an average of 5,000 a month over the past three months, while the number of people in paid work stayed level.
The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) counted 197,100 ongoing unemployment benefit (WW, the benefit paid to people who lose their job) claims at the end of September, 1.2% more than a month earlier. In August, 24,600 new claims were added and 22,200 were ended.
Unemployment rose from 370,000 in June 2024 to 408,000 in September 2026
Thousands of people (seasonally adjusted) · Jun 2024–Sep 2026
Unemployment rose from 370,000 in June 2024 to 408,000 in September 2026 (thousands of people (seasonally adjusted)). From 370 in Jun 2024 to 408 in Sep 2026; highest 416 in Feb 2026, lowest 370 in Jun 2024. Source: CBS.
View data
| Item | Thousands of people (seasonally adjusted) |
|---|---|
| Jun 2024 | 370 |
| Jul 2024 | 370 |
| Aug 2024 | 374 |
| Sep 2024 | 377 |
| Oct 2024 | 376 |
| Nov 2024 | 372 |
| Dec 2024 | 373 |
| Jan 2025 | 386 |
| Feb 2025 | 392 |
| Mar 2025 | 395 |
| Apr 2025 | 387 |
| May 2025 | 385 |
| Jun 2025 | 386 |
| Jul 2025 | 388 |
| Aug 2025 | 401 |
| Sep 2025 | 409 |
| Oct 2025 | 411 |
| Nov 2025 | 408 |
| Dec 2025 | 410 |
| Jan 2026 | 415 |
| Feb 2026 | 416 |
| Mar 2026 | 407 |
| Apr 2026 | 397 |
| May 2026 | 399 |
| Jun 2026 | 393 |
| Jul 2026 | 404 |
| Aug 2026 | 408 |
| Sep 2026 | 408 |
Fewer people leaving unemployment
Two groups pushed unemployment up over the three months: 124,000 workers lost their jobs and 123,000 people who had not been looking for work started searching. In total, 247,000 people were unemployed in September who were not three months earlier.
Two groups left unemployment: 140,000 unemployed people found a job and 92,000 stopped looking and left the labour force. That made 232,000 people who were no longer unemployed. Outflow had risen to 262,000 in April, before both groups began to shrink. Because inflow exceeded outflow, unemployment rose by an average of 5,000 a month.
Another 3.2 million people are not counted in the labour force because they have not recently looked for work or were not immediately available. They are mainly retired people or people who cannot work because of illness or incapacity. That number fell by an average of 2,000 a month over the past three months. It has hovered around 3.2 million since early 2023, while the number of people in work has stayed around 9.8 million for almost three years.
Follow the story: UWV
CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)
Statistics Netherlands, the independent government body that produces the official statistics on the Dutch economy and society.
UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen)
The Employee Insurance Agency, which pays unemployment and disability benefits and helps people back into work.
WW (Werkloosheidswet)
WW is the Dutch unemployment benefit for people who have lost their job involuntarily and have built up enough employment history beforehand. It is an insurance-based benefit, funded through premiums, and it is paid by the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) for a limited period that depends on how long the person worked. Because it is insurance-based, it is separate from the social assistance benefit (bijstand).