Despite the economic recovery, there was a rise in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit last year, according to new figures from the benefit payment agency UWV.

By the end of 2014, there were 440,800 people claiming unemployment benefit (ww), a 1% rise on the end of 2013 total. ‘The increase in claims levelled off in 2014 but the recovery remains fragile,’ UWC chairman Bruno Bruins is quoted as saying by news agency ANP.

In particular, the position of the over-50s in the jobs market remains vulnerable, he said. ‘We will continue to give extra support to this group in their search for work,’ Bruins said.

However, the number of new ww claims processed by the agency last year reached 605,000. This is well down on the record 613,200 claims processed in 2013.