The Netherlands’ unemployment rate remained steady at 3.8 percent in June 2025, unchanged from April and May, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This translates to approximately 386,000 unemployed individuals, although the number has been gradually decreasing by about 3,000 per month over the last quarter.
Employment figures showed positive growth, with paid employment rising by an average of 5,000 per month during the same period. At the same time, around 3.2 million people were outside the labour force due to retirement, illness, or disability, a figure that is also declining by roughly 6,000 monthly.
Data from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) reflected similar trends. The number of people receiving unemployment benefits fell to 183,600 by the end of June, down 3,000 or 1.6 percent from the previous month. The largest decrease occurred among those under 25, with a 3.7 percent drop, while only those aged 65 and older saw a slight increase of 0.2 percent.
In terms of labour market movements, more people exited unemployment than entered it. Approximately 239,000 previously unemployed individuals found work or left the labour force, compared to 230,000 who became newly unemployed. This resulted in a net decline in unemployment, continuing the recent trend of slow but steady improvement in the Dutch labour market.
