Masking the steady decline since 1999 in very long-term unemployment (i.e. unemployment of more than three years), long-term unemployment has begun to rise again (2.9% in 2002), affecting some 700 000 job-seekers, most particularly the over-50s.
De langdurige werkloosheid, die de gestage daling sinds 1999 van de zeer langdurige werkloosheid (d. w. z. werkloosheid van meer dan drie jaar) verbergt, is weer toegenomen (2,9% in 2002) en treft ongeveer 700.000 werkzoekenden, name vijftigplussers.