Jobs

Between 1 April 2003 and 1 April 2004 employment in the province of Groningen fell by 0.6%. That represents a slight fall in employment for the second consecutive year. The fall in 2004 is slightly lower than in 2003. Most of the jobs were lost in the city, where there are now 1443 fewer jobs than in 2003 (-1.1%). With that result the city performed better than in 2003. In the rest of the province employment remained at virtually the same level (-0.1%).

Most new jobs created in the care sector
As in 2003, the healthcare and welfare sector grew the most in 2004 (+1.011). Most of the job cuts were in the building industry (--1,024) and the business services sector (--943). The strongest relative growth was found in the transport and communication sector (4.9%), while the biggest relative decline was felt in the financial institutions (-8.8%). Over the longer term (2000-2004) the healthcare and welfare sector has undergone the most growth (15.6%), followed closely by public administration and government (15.3%). The building industry has suffered the sharpest fall in the long term, too (-12.9%).

Especially sharp decline in industry and the building sector
Employment levels in the municipality of Groningen fell by 1.1% in 2003. More than half (56.1%) of the fall in employment in the municipality of Groningen can be attributed to the decline in industry. Many jobs were lost in the building sector, too. But there were also job losses in many other sectors in the municipality of Groningen. However, the healthcare and welfare sector, public administration and government, business services and the transport and communication sector managed to buck this downward trend in the municipality of Groningen.

Decline in building and trade, growth in healthcare and business services in the province
There was a slight fall in employment in Groningen’s other municipalities. A relatively large number of jobs were lost in the building sector and in trade and repair services. There was however clear growth in the healthcare and welfare sector and in business services.

Once again fewer temps, increase in the proportion of women
The share of temps in the overall number of jobs decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2001 the percentage of people working as temps was 5.1, and by 2004 that had decreased to 3.0%. There was also a slight decrease in full-time jobs (-0.6%), whereas the number of part-time jobs rose by 3.1%. The proportion of women holding jobs rose from 42.2% to 42.9%. That growth can be attributed to employment levels falling in the sectors in which relatively more men are employed (such as the building sector and industry).

More information

You will find all of the facts and figures on employment in Groningen at: www.arbeidsmarktgroningen.nl (in Dutch)
A report (in Dutch) on employment in Groningen can also be obtained form the province of Groningen: tel. +31 (0)50 316 4194 or www.provinciegroningen.nl