Temporary unemployment quadrupled in two weeks

A significant increase compared to two weeks ago, when it was still about 10,000 people.

“Companies do not do this for fun. Reducing or shutting down production is very drastic,” says labor economist Stijn Baert (UGent). “But they are doing the exercise: what is still profitable and what is not? This is a problem especially in industry, where international companies must also be confronted that are not moaning under the energy crisis.”

The RVA points out that this is a modest increase compared to the temporary unemployment that was invoked during the corona crisis. Then more than 100,000 people were put on temporary unemployment. “It’s the indicator that the economy is coming to a standstill. And ultimately that a recession is imminent.”