The proportion of working women in the Dutch labour market remained unchanged at around 64% in 2010 and 2011, the government’s socio-cultural advisory group SCP says in a new report.

The SCP has been tracking the position of women in the jobs market since 2000, and a steady rise was reported in the early years. Now, however, the figure seems to stuck at around 64%. By contrast, 80% of men have a job.
The SCP says the economic crisis is partly to blame, as many women have lost their jobs. But an increase in the cost of childcare may also have encouraged women to stop working.
On Monday, social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher confirmed reports that the number of people using organised childcare has gone down by around 5% since the government reduced subsidies for parents.
Independent
The survey also shows that just 52% of women aged 20 to 64 are economically independent – which means they earn more than the basic welfare benefits of around €940. This is because many women have a part-time job. According to OECD figures, two-thirds of Dutch women work fewer than 36 hours a week.
However, while the number of women in work has held steady, the number of men in active employment fell from 82% to 80% over the past two years. Men have been particularly affected by job losses in the building and transport sectors, the SCP said.
The organisation expects it will be at least 10 years before men and women are equally represented in the jobs market.

Earlier stories
Some 60% of women now work
One in three single mums want to work more
Little improvement in the number of female bosses

Your thoughts? Use the comment form below.