According to the most recent figures published by Statistics Netherlands, the Dutch economy grew by 1,1 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared with same period last year but also shrank by 0,3 percent compared with the second quarter.

Note that the last negative quarter-on-quarter growth was in 2009 (Q2).

Moreover, adjusted for seasonal variation, there were 4 thousand fewer vacancies compared with the previous quarter. Filled vacancies were 8 thousand more than in the same quarter last year but also 4 thousand less relative to the same period in 2010.