The total amount of hours worked by temporary workers in the Netherlands fell by 10% in the fifth period (weeks 17-20) of 2019, compared to the same period last year, according to the Dutch Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU).

ABU divides the year into four-week periods, with the fourth period the most recently ended. This period counted one more workable day than the same period last year, so a correction was applied.

Temporary worker turnover decreased by 6% in comparison to the same period last year.

ABU also reported that temporary workers in the administrative sector saw their hours decrease by 8% compared to the same period last year while turnover decreased by 4% in the same period.

In the industrial sector, the number of hours decreased by 11% and turnover decreased by 7% compared to the same period last year.

Within the technical sector, the number of hours decreased by 9% and the turnover decreased by 5% compared to the same period last year.

ABU will publish its figures for the fourth period on 9 July 2019.

In April 2019, the Netherlands reported an unemployment rate of 3.3%, according to Eurostat.