Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands

Netherlands: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 31.5% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
31.5%
Change on year
up 20.2%
World rank
37th
of 44 countries
All-time high
59.4%
in 2004
All-time low
26.2%
in 2019
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands, 1998–2020

02040601998200920201998: 37.8 Percentage1999: 34.8 Percentage2000: 55.2 Percentage2001: 46.3 Percentage2002: 48.8 Percentage2003: 55.2 Percentage2004: 59.4 Percentage2005: 54.3 Percentage2006: 48.5 Percentage2007: 37.7 Percentage2008: 43.1 Percentage2009: 47.4 Percentage2010: 42.1 Percentage2011: 38.7 Percentage2012: 39.8 Percentage2013: 43.5 Percentage2014: 40.8 Percentage2015: 39.6 Percentage2016: 33.4 Percentage2017: 29.6 Percentage2018: 28.4 Percentage2019: 26.2 Percentage2020: 31.5 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

Netherlands recorded 31.5% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020.

The figure is up 20.2% on the previous year and down 25.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands peaked at 59.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 26.2%, in 2019.

Netherlands ranks 37th of 44 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in Netherlands, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 37.8%
1999 34.8% -7.9%
2000 55.2% +58.6%
2001 46.3% -16.1%
2002 48.8% +5.4%
2003 55.2% +13.1%
2004 59.4% +7.6%
2005 54.3% -8.6%
2006 48.5% -10.7%
2007 37.7% -22.3%
2008 43.1% +14.3%
2009 47.4% +10.0%
2010 42.1% -11.2%
2011 38.7% -8.1%
2012 39.8% +2.8%
2013 43.5% +9.3%
2014 40.8% -6.2%
2015 39.6% -2.9%
2016 33.4% -15.7%
2017 29.6% -11.4%
2018 28.4% -4.1%
2019 26.2% -7.7%
2020 31.5% +20.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 36.3% 34.8% 37.8% 2
2000s 49.6% 37.7% 59.4% 10
2010s 36.2% 26.2% 43.5% 10
2020s 31.5% 31.5% 31.5% 1

Countries ranked near Netherlands

  1. 34 Malta 37.6% compare
  2. 35 Ireland 37.1% compare
  3. 36 Türkiye 34.1% compare
  4. 37 Netherlands 31.5% compare
  5. 39 Portugal 28.6% compare
  6. 40 Spain 23.3% compare

See the full ranking of 46 places →

More work & labour data for Netherlands

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands was 31.5% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Netherlands?
The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2004.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Netherlands?
The lowest recorded value was 26.2% in 2019.
How does Netherlands rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Netherlands ranks 37th out of 44 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Netherlands?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Netherlands data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Netherlands. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/netherlands-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed