The rate of joblessness in the Netherlands has declined to its lowest level in two years, official statistics show.

Data published this week indicates that Dutch unemployment dropped in April, having been stable since December, according to RTT News.

Figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics show that the number of people out of work dipped on a seasonally-adjusted basis from 5.1 per cent the previous month to five per cent.

In addition, unemployment figures fell by 3,000 to 392,000 over the period in question, following a drop of 5,000 in March.

A total of 135,000 vacancies were unfilled by the end of March 2011, with strong growth in opportunities in the IT, care and manufacturing sectors in particular.

The Netherlands is the location for this year's annual World Employment Conference of the International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (Ciett), which is currently being held in Rotterdam and is looking at the future of the global agency work sector.

Posted by Alex Donnell