Unemployment in Flanders rises slightly
At the end of February, 215,133 jobseekers were registered with Flemish employment agency VDAB. This is an increase of 2 per cent in one year, according to figures from the agency on Tuesday. Unemployment in Flanders has been rising for about a year.
Just over half (52 per cent) of jobseekers are receiving unemployment benefits. Another 42 per cent are former non-working individuals, meaning they previously had a minimum income, sickness benefit or no benefits at all and were not actively looking for work but now wish to enter the job market. The figures also include young people still in their vocational integration period.
The unemployment rate in Flanders is now 6.8 per cent. This is slightly higher than in February last year (6.6 per cent). The VDAB figures show clear differences in each province. For example, Flemish Brabant has the lowest jobseeker rate at 5.3 per cent. Antwerp has the highest share of jobseekers in its working population at 8.4 per cent. In the other Flemish provinces, the rate fluctuates between 6.1 per cent and 6.7 per cent.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO SISKA GREMMELPREZ
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