Increased number of hours worked in temp jobs

In the first quarter of 2011, the amount of hours worked in temp jobs in the Netherlands grew by nearly 6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, according to CBS.

The increase in temp hours is in line with the current economic situation; the declining demand for goods and services in the latter half of 2008 and in 2009 led to less work for temporary employees, but demand picked up in 2010 and the beginning of 2011.

Note that "temp jobs" include people working for temp agencies on a contract basis without regular terms of employment.