The Dutch unemployment rate rose by some 15,000 people to 5.6% in the third quarter of this year, after remaining stable in the first six months, the national statistics office CBS said on Thursday.

Both men and women are being equally hard hit this time round, the CBS said. During the credit crisis, more men lost their jobs as traditional industries and the construction sector lost ground.
But now the healthcare sector is being more reluctant to take on new staff and the civil service job cuts are also beginning to bite.
Nevertheless, the Dutch unemployment rate is still among the lowest in Europe, where the average is 10%.
Consumer confidence has also fallen in the third quarter, the CBS said.