Netherlands Economy - Seven in 10 older unemployed are jobless for at least a year

In the Netherlands seven out of 10 people aged 55 and over who lose their jobs are unemployed for at least a year, according to job centre figures.

This number of older jobless has gone up by 20% during the past year and now stands at over 81,000.
And while 30% of them will find new work within a year, half of those jobs are only temporary, the job centre figures show.

The government is planning to reduce unemployment benefit entitlement to a maximum of one year, after which jobless people will have to claim welfare or use their savings.

The new administration is also planning to reform redundancy law which unions fear will encourage companies to let go their older workers.

Read more: DutchNews.nl - Seven in 10 older unemployed are jobless for at least a year