Labour participation; key figures, 2003-2022

Changed on: 16/01/2023 02:00

Labour participation; key figures, 2003-2022
Sex	Age	Highest educational level	Periods	Labour force and not in the labour force (x 1 000)	Labour force Labour force (x 1 000)	Labour force Unemployed labour force (x 1 000)	Labour force Unemployment rate (%)	Labour force Employed labour force Employed labour force (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Full-time (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time Less than 20 working hours a week Less than 20 working hours a week (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time Less than 20 working hours a week Less than 12 working hours a week (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time Less than 20 working hours a week 12 to 19 working hours a week (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time 20 to 34 working hours a week 20 to 34 working hours a week (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time 20 to 34 working hours a week 20 to 27 working hours a week (x 1 000)	Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time 20 to 34 working hours a week 28 to 34 working hours a week (x 1 000)	Not in the labour force (x 1 000)
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	13,175	9,768	356	3.6	9,412	4,912	1,555	886	670	2,945	1,279	1,666	3,407
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	3,394	1,934	115	5.9	1,819	741	616	401	215	462	229	233	1,460
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	4,883	3,742	128	3.4	3,614	1,722	665	341	325	1,226	591	635	1,141
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	4,804	4,038	111	2.7	3,928	2,418	268	141	127	1,241	452	789	766
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	94	54	2	3.8	52	31	5	3	2	15	7	8	40
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	2,137	1,708	130	7.6	1,578	368	883	612	271	326	167	159	429
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	900	668	65	9.7	604	79	436	328	107	89	47	42	232
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	943	787	52	6.6	735	180	376	237	139	179	94	85	157
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	292	252	13	5.1	239	110	72	47	25	57	25	32	40
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	1	1	0	.	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	11,241	9,460	337	3.6	9,123	4,827	1,440	813	627	2,855	1,224	1,631	1,781
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	2,599	1,845	108	5.8	1,737	715	582	379	203	440	215	225	754
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	4,254	3,632	124	3.4	3,509	1,691	626	320	306	1,191	568	623	622
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	4,308	3,931	104	2.6	3,827	2,389	228	112	116	1,209	435	774	378
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	79	52	2	3.4	50	31	4	2	2	15	7	8	27
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	4,356	3,905	118	3.0	3,787	2,318	245	91	154	1,224	478	747	451
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	508	373	21	5.6	352	218	44	15	29	91	38	53	135
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	1,476	1,314	37	2.9	1,277	722	112	38	74	442	195	247	162
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	2,342	2,195	59	2.7	2,136	1,364	87	37	50	686	241	445	148
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	30	23	1	.	22	14	2	1	1	6	3	2	7
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	2,259	2,057	76	3.7	1,981	1,280	129	53	76	572	205	367	202
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	206	152	10	6.8	142	86	18	7	12	37	17	20	53
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	751	675	24	3.6	651	383	63	24	39	205	82	123	75
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	1,288	1,217	41	3.3	1,176	803	47	21	25	327	104	222	71
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	15	12	0	.	12	8	0	0	0	3	1	2	3
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	2,097	1,848	42	2.3	1,806	1,038	116	38	78	652	272	380	249
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	302	221	10	4.7	211	131	26	8	18	54	20	33	81
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	726	639	13	2.1	626	340	49	14	35	237	113	124	87
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	1,055	978	18	1.8	960	561	40	16	24	359	137	222	77
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	15	11	0	.	10	6	1	1	1	3	2	1	4
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	2,345	2,059	39	1.9	2,020	1,222	132	39	93	666	284	382	287
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	473	346	7	2.0	339	201	40	14	26	99	46	53	126
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	901	805	17	2.1	788	439	59	13	46	290	141	149	96
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	946	891	14	1.6	877	574	32	12	20	271	96	175	55
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	26	16	1	.	16	9	1	0	1	6	1	4	10
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	4,748	3,847	90	2.3	3,757	2,141	312	111	202	1,304	579	725	901
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	1,191	803	22	2.8	781	419	103	36	66	260	130	130	388
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	1,834	1,532	34	2.2	1,497	790	138	46	93	569	278	291	302
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	1,675	1,484	32	2.2	1,452	916	69	28	41	467	169	298	190
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	49	28	1	.	27	16	2	1	2	8	3	6	20
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	6,683	4,155	108	2.6	4,047	2,225	428	183	245	1,394	635	759	2,528
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	1,986	893	30	3.3	863	444	137	58	79	282	144	138	1,094
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	2,463	1,641	38	2.3	1,602	820	178	66	112	605	302	303	822
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	2,170	1,592	39	2.4	1,553	945	110	57	53	498	186	312	578
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	63	30	1	.	29	16	4	2	2	8	3	6	33
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	2,403	1,789	51	2.8	1,738	919	181	72	109	638	295	343	614
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	719	457	15	3.4	442	218	63	23	40	161	84	77	262
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	933	727	17	2.4	709	351	79	33	47	279	137	142	207
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	728	593	18	3.0	575	342	37	16	21	196	73	122	135
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	23	12	0	.	12	7	1	0	1	3	1	2	11
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,934	308	18	6.0	290	84	115	72	43	90	55	35	1,626
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	795	89	7	8.2	82	25	34	21	13	23	15	8	706
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	629	109	4	3.7	105	31	39	20	19	35	24	12	520
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	496	108	7	6.2	101	29	41	29	11	32	17	15	388
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	14	2	0	.	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	13
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,016	767	75	9.8	692	52	546	411	135	94	57	37	249
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	753	553	58	10.4	495	34	404	312	92	57	33	24	200
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	254	208	17	8.1	191	17	139	97	42	34	22	13	47
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	7	5	0	.	5	0	3	2	1	2	1	0	2
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	1	1	0	.	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,121	941	55	5.8	886	316	337	201	136	233	111	122	180
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	147	115	7	6.1	108	45	32	16	15	32	14	18	32
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	689	579	35	6.1	544	162	237	140	96	145	73	72	110
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	285	247	13	5.2	234	109	69	45	24	55	24	32	38
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	0	0	0	.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,121	1,026	40	3.9	986	654	76	35	41	256	84	172	95
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	89	65	5	8.3	60	36	7	2	4	17	7	10	24
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	372	338	11	3.3	327	192	38	18	21	96	35	62	34
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	652	616	23	3.8	593	422	30	15	15	141	41	99	36
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	7	6	0	.	6	4	0	0	0	2	1	1	1
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,138	1,030	36	3.4	995	626	53	18	36	316	121	195	107
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	116	87	5	5.7	82	50	12	4	7	20	10	10	29
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	378	337	13	3.8	324	191	25	7	18	109	47	61	41
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	636	600	17	2.9	583	380	16	6	10	186	63	123	35
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	8	6	0	.	6	4	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,062	945	24	2.6	921	530	53	17	35	338	141	197	117
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	137	99	6	6.3	92	63	9	2	7	20	9	11	38
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	349	306	5	1.7	301	168	22	6	16	111	54	57	43
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	567	535	13	2.3	522	296	21	9	12	206	77	129	32
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	9	6	0	.	6	3	1	0	1	2	1	0	3
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,035	903	18	2.0	885	508	63	21	43	314	131	183	132
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	165	122	4	3.4	118	68	17	6	11	33	11	22	43
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	377	333	8	2.4	325	172	27	8	20	126	60	67	43
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	488	443	6	1.2	437	265	19	7	12	153	60	94	45
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	6	5	0	.	4	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	1
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,075	955	14	1.5	940	564	58	15	43	319	138	181	120
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	194	139	2	1.4	137	86	13	4	9	38	17	21	55
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	392	359	7	1.8	352	192	26	5	22	134	70	64	33
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	477	450	6	1.2	445	283	18	6	12	144	51	93	27
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	12	7	0	.	6	4	0	0	0	2	1	2	5
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,271	1,104	25	2.2	1,080	659	74	24	50	347	146	202	167
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	279	207	5	2.4	202	115	26	9	17	61	29	32	71
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	508	446	11	2.4	436	247	32	8	24	156	71	85	62
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	469	441	9	2.0	432	291	14	6	8	127	45	82	28
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	14	10	0	.	9	5	1	0	0	3	1	3	5
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Total	2022 1st quarter	1,253	1,031	25	2.4	1,006	567	90	35	55	349	159	190	223
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	1 Lower education	2022 1st quarter	336	237	8	3.3	229	123	26	9	18	80	42	38	99
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	2 Intermediate education	2022 1st quarter	508	434	9	2.2	424	225	42	17	25	158	79	79	74
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	3 Higher education	2022 1st quarter	396	352	7	2.1	345	215	21	9	12	109	37	72	44
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Unknown	2022 1st quarter	13	8	0	.	8	5	1	0	1	2	1	1	5
Source: CBS.

Explanation of symbols

Table explanation

This table contains quarterly and yearly figures on labour participation in the Netherlands. The population of 15 to 74 years of age (excluding the institutionalized population) is divided into the employed labour force, the unemployed labour force and those not in the labour force. The employed labour force is subdivided on the basis of the professional status, and the average working hours. A division by sex, age and level of education is available.

Due to changes in the survey design and the questionnaire of the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a revision of the figures for 2021 was carried out in the first quarter of 2022.
As a result, the numbers of 2021 and later will not be comparable to the years 2003-2020.

Data available from: 2003-2022

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

Changes as of Januariy 16, 2023:
The periods were still indicated in Dutch. That has been converted to English.

Changes as of August 17, 2022:
None, the table has been discontinued.

When will new figures be released?
Not applicable. This table has been replaced, see paragraph 3 for a link to the new table.

Description topics

Labour force and not in the labour force

People who are part of the employed labour force, the unemployed labour force or who are not in the labour force.

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 75 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Labour force

People
- who have paid work (employed labour force), or
- who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it (unemployed labour force).

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Labour force: People
- who have paid work (employed labour force), or
- who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it (unemployed labour force).

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Employed labour force

People who have paid work.

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Employed labour force: People who have paid work.

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Working hours

The number of hours someone works in a normal or average working week.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Part-time

The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 35 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Less than 20 working hours a week

The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 20 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Less than 20 working hours a week: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 20 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Less than 12 working hours a week: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 20 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

12 to 19 working hours a week: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 12 to 19 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

20 to 34 working hours a week

The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 20 to 34 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

20 to 34 working hours a week: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 20 to 34 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

20 to 27 working hours a week: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 20 to 27 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

28 to 34 working hours a week: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 28 to 34 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Full-time: The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 35 hours or more.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Unemployed labour force: People who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it.

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Unemployment rate: The unemployed labour force as a percentage of the (employed and unemployed) labour force.

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old.

Not in the labour force

People who don’t have paid work, who haven’t recently looked for work recently or are not directly available for it.

This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.