ABSTRACT
Labour markets of port-cities share some common characteristics making them different from other cities and regions. The labour market of port-cities is as varied as any other regional labour market, as companies and inhabitants in the region have regular needs for goods and services, housing, health care and the like. The employment structures of Europe's main port-cities have much in common. The main differences are that compared to Antwerp and Hamburg, Rotterdam is somewhat more oriented towards business services and financial services, while the employment share of the manufacturing industry is somewhat smaller in Rotterdam. Most port-cities used to have a considerable shipbuilding industry, for example, which has largely moved to low-wage countries. Another industry that disappeared from The Netherlands is the textiles industry. Furthermore, manufacturing industries that have remained active in The Netherlands, like the metalworking and electrical engineering industries, have considerably increased in productivity.
