ABU, the Dutch federation of private employment agencies, reported Tuesday that the number of hours worked by temporary agency workers fell 9% in weeks 41 through 44 of this year compared to the same period last year. Turnover fell 6%.

Declines in hours worked happened in the industrial sector and the technical sector, with hours in both sectors down 9%. However, hours worked by temporary workers increased 11% in the administrative sector.

Still, turnover decreased in all three sectors. It was down 7% in the administrative sector and down 5% in both the industrial and technical sectors.