The number of job vacancies in the Netherlands reached 251,000 in the second quarter of 2018, an increase of 16,000 over the first three months of the year and 2,000 more than the record set at the end of 2007, the national statistics office CBS said on Tuesday.

The number of job vacancies has risen each quarter in the past five years, the CBS said, and was seen in nearly every sector.

The highest number of job openings was in trade with 50,000 vacancies while commercial services, education and industry each had more than 2,000 vacancies.

Financial services was the only sector to register a loss. Job openings are half the number recorded at the end of 2008.

The number of job vacancies increased by 52,000 in the second quarter,  the seventh consecutive quarter in which more than 50,000 vacancies were registered.

Full time

All jobs – full-time contracted employment, part-time, and shared – were included in the figures. But by far the largest category, 48,000, was for full time jobs. Most were in trade and catering, but were also seen in the care and transport sectors.

The number of unemployed fell by 14,000 in the second quarter. There are now 14 unemployed for every 10 job vacancies, the CBS said. This nearly equals 2008 when there were 13 unemployed for every 10 job openings.

The jobs market has been officially under stress for the past three quarters. This indicates that demand for employment was above average and the supply available limited.