Labour force; main figures by sex and other characteristics 2000-2014

Table explanation


In this table you can find yearly figures about the composition of the Dutch labour force according to the international definition.

The Dutch definition of the labour force deviates from the international standard of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Because of this the size and composition of the labour force differs. Firstly for the Dutch definition a threshold value of twelve hours is used for the number of hours a person wants to work in a week. For the international definition this is not the case. Secondly the unemployed population is defined differently.
According to the international definition someone must be able to start working within two weeks. For the Dutch definition in some cases a term of three months is used when someone can start working or actively search for work.

Data available from 2000 to2013.

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are definite.

Changes as of 26 February 2015:
None, this table was stopped.

Changes as of 1 April 2014:
The figures on 2013 were added to this table. All figures on occupation for 2012 and 2013 are not available yet. As soon as these figures are available they will be added to this table. The figures on the level of education for 2012 onwards are provisional.

When will new figures be published?
This table is stopped. The update of 1 April 2014 was the last update of this table. On 26 February 2015 new revised tables about the labour force have been published. The revision of the labour force statistics consists of two parts. The definitions will be adjusted to the international standard definitions and data collection is improved by using web interviewing. For more information about this revision, see the link to the press release in paragraph 3.

Description topics

Total population aged 15 years and older
Labour force acc.to internat. definition
Labour force according to the international definition.
The Dutch definition of the labour force deviates from the international
definition as given by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and
therefore gives different results. Firstly, according to the Dutch
definition only persons willing to work at least twelve hours a week are
taken into account. Secondly, the definitions of labour force vary. The
international definition requires prompt (within two weeks) availability
for the labour market. According to the Dutch definition a period of three
months is allowed.
Position on the labour market
The population of 15 years and older can be classified as follows.
- employed labour force.
- unemployed labour force.
- persons not included in the labour force.
Total labour force acc.to internat. def.
Total labour force according to the international definition.
Emp. labour force acc. to internat. def.
Employed population according to the international definition.
Persons working at least 1 hour a week.
Unemp. labour force acc.to internat.def.
Unemployed labour force according to the international definition.
People not included in the labour force
Persons not included in the labour force.