The unemployment rate among new graduates and vocational college leavers has doubled over the past three years, according to Maastricht University researchers, quoted by news agency Novum.

In 2008, 3.2% of vocational college (mbo) graduates were without a job, but this rose to 7% last year. The unemployment rate under university graduates has risen from 4% to 7.9% over the same period while 6.6% of hbo college graduates are now jobless.
The research also showed 63% of female graduates work fewer than 33 hours a week, compared with 20% of men.
The researchers blame the rise in graduate unemployment on the economic crisis which has made it harder for graduates to find a job and reduced their career prospects.
According to Eurostat figures published earlier this week, the Netherlands has one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in Europe. Eurostat said some 9.2% of the under-25s in Holland are without work, and only Germany and Austria have a lower total.

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