The total amount of hours worked by temporary workers in the Netherlands decreased by 9% in the eighth period (weeks 29-32) 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 eighth period the most recently ended.

Temporary worker revenue decreased by 5% in comparison to the same period last year.

Temporary workers in the administrative sector saw their hours decrease by 10% compared to the same period last year while revenue decreased by 5% in the same period.

In the industrial sector, the number of hours decreased by 8% and revenue decreased by 4% compared to the same period last year.

Within the technical sector, the number of hours decreased by 10% and revenue decreased by 6% compared to the same period last year.

ABU will publish its figures for the ninth period on 1 October 2019.

The unemployment rate in the Netherlands stood at 3.4% in July 2019 according to recent data from Eurostat.