For the first time in a year and a half, companies are more concerned with downsizing. Last month, the UWV received 1,463 applications for the dismissal of workers, the Central Statistical Office reported. This is the highest number since March 2021.

This number doesn’t say everything about how many employees will be laid off. Only a small proportion of all redundancies require a UWV notice of termination. Employers also have the option of terminating contracts or applying for permission from a termination committee.

During the Corona crisis, the number of termination applications at the UWV fell sharply. Businesses received government support to continue paying wages, reducing the need for cost-cutting. In August and September the number of layoffs increased again.

According to the UWV, it is still too early to speak of a trend reversal. “It’s a little more than in the past few months,” says Rob Witjes, labor market expert at UWV. “There are still too few to speak of a trend reversal in the labor market, but you can see that dark clouds are gathering.”

Witjes notices a change in the companies. “Many companies feel the increased uncertainty and shy away from new job offers. They just wait and see what mood comes over them.” He points out that the labor market is still very tight.

More unemployed

A trend reversal is also visible in the figures on the number of unemployment benefits. The number of unemployment benefits has been falling for months. In September, the number rose slightly to 152,000.

Unemployment has been rising since April. According to CBS figures, 382,000 people, or 3.8 percent of the labor force, were unemployed in September. In six months, 66,000 more unemployed were added.