All these months, there were layoffs and pay cuts due to the persistent COVID-19 pandemic. According to the national statistics office CBS, the Dutch official jobless rate rose to 4.5 per cent in July, as the number of unemployed went up to 419,000. In Amsterdam, around 29,000 people claimed unemployment benefits, a rise of 53 per cent on a year ago, says another report.
Companies have been reduced their recruitment numbers, while some have implemented hiring freeze indefinitely. A report by Cedefop notes that there have been 35 per cent fewer jobs listed by European companies in online job portals this year.