The total amount of hours worked by temporary workers in the Netherlands fell by 3% in the thirteenth period (weeks 49-52) 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 thirteenth period the most recently ended. This period counted as many workable days as in the same period last year so no correction was applied.

Turnover increased by 1% in comparison to the same period last year.

Temporary workers in the administrative sector saw their hours decrease by 4% when compared to the same period last year and turnover decreased 1% in the same period.

Hours worked by temporary workers in the industrial sector fell by 1%, while turnover increased 4% compared to last year.

The number of hours worked in the technical sector fell by 8% while turnover decreased by 3% compared to the same period last year.

ABU also published annual figures showing that the temporary agency work sector increased in 2018 in comparison with 2017. The total number of hours increased 2% in 2018 and total turnover showed an increase of 6%. The year 2018 had one workable day less than 2017, for this fact a correction was applied.

In the administrative sector, the number of hours worked decreased 1% in comparison to 2017 and turnover increased 2%.

In the industrial sector hours decreased 1% and turnover increased 4% in comparison to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, in the technical sector there was a decrease of 8% in hours and a decrease of 3% in turnover compared to the same period last year.