People living in the big Dutch cities earn more than their counterparts in rural areas and find it easier to get a job, according to a new report by the Netherlands environmental assessment agency PBL.

Wages for the same work are 10% higher in Amsterdam than in smaller towns and 8% higher in Rotterdam and The Hague.

The figures show that the big cities are blooming, with a strong economy and good productivity, the report said. Companies are competing to attract the best staff and this is driving wages upward.

The number of jobs in the cities has grown by 30% over the past 25 years, compared with 20% in rural areas.