More graduates claim WW unemployment benefit, now 38% of recipients
The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) says more graduates are claiming WW unemployment benefit, with highly educated marketing staff among the groups on the rise.
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Illustrative photo: lettinck / Pixabay Content LicenseThe number of people with a higher education claiming WW unemployment benefit is growing, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) says in a new report. People with a higher education (hogeschool) made up 30% of all WW recipients in 2022. This year their share is 38%.
UWV sees a rise in the number of highly educated marketing staff on WW.
Part of the overall increase is because more people in the Netherlands have a higher education.
Separately, CBS counted 126,000 unemployed people with a hogeschool or university education in the second quarter of 2026, up from 103,000 in the same quarter of 2022. The count peaked at 143,000 in the third quarter of 2025. It is a different measure from the number of people receiving WW.
Unemployment among higher-educated people peaked in 2025
Thousands of people · 2021 Q3–2026 Q2
Unemployment among higher-educated people peaked in 2025 (thousands of people). From 122 in 2021 Q3 to 126 in 2026 Q2; highest 143 in 2025 Q3, lowest 103 in 2022 Q2. Source: CBS.
View data
| Period | Thousands of people |
|---|---|
| 2021 Q3 | 122 |
| 2021 Q4 | 111 |
| 2022 Q1 | 111 |
| 2022 Q2 | 103 |
| 2022 Q3 | 118 |
| 2022 Q4 | 112 |
| 2023 Q1 | 120 |
| 2023 Q2 | 107 |
| 2023 Q3 | 121 |
| 2023 Q4 | 105 |
| 2024 Q1 | 124 |
| 2024 Q2 | 106 |
| 2024 Q3 | 120 |
| 2024 Q4 | 120 |
| 2025 Q1 | 136 |
| 2025 Q2 | 124 |
| 2025 Q3 | 143 |
| 2025 Q4 | 132 |
| 2026 Q1 | 142 |
| 2026 Q2 | 126 |
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UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen)
The Employee Insurance Agency, which pays unemployment and disability benefits and helps people back into work.
WW (Werkloosheidswet)
The WW is the Dutch unemployment benefit scheme, paid to employees who lose their job involuntarily. The benefit is income-related and is paid for a limited period that depends on the number of hours worked in the years before unemployment. The UWV (Employee Insurance Agency) carries out the WW, so it is the organisation people apply to and that decides on claims.