Netherlands unemployment rate remains stable at 4.0 percent

The unemployment rate in the Netherlands remained stable at 4.0 percent in September 2026, according to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). While the percentage held steady compared to August, the total number of unemployed individuals reached 408,000.

Over the past three months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by an average of 5,000 per month. This trend is driven by an inflow that exceeded the outflow; specifically, 247,000 people became unemployed during this three-month period, consisting of 124,000 individuals who lost their jobs and 123,000 people re-entering the labor market.

In terms of benefits, the UWV reported 197,100 active unemployment benefits (WW) at the end of September, representing a 1.2 percent increase from the end of August. Additionally, approximately 3.2 million people are currently classified as being outside the labor force, primarily due to retirement, illness, or disability.