The Netherlands’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.0% in July 2026 from 3.8% in June, its highest level in four months. The number of unemployed people increased by 11,000 to 404,000, with the rise concentrated among men as their unemployment rate climbed to 4.0% from 3.8%; the rate for women fell to 3.9% from 4.0%. Over the past three months, unemployment increased by an average of 2,000 people per month because inflows into unemployment exceeded outflows. Employment fell by 10,000 to 9.821 million, while the labor force was unchanged at 10.225 million. The gross labor-force participation rate held at 76.0%, and the net rate edged down to 73.0% from 73.1%. A further 3.2 million people were outside the labor force, mainly retirees and people unable to work because of illness or disability. Ongoing unemployment benefits totaled 200,000 at the end of July.