Caribbean Netherlands; labour participation, attachment to labour market

Caribbean Netherlands; labour participation, attachment to labour market

Sex Characteristic households persons Caribbean Netherlands Periods Labour force and not in the labour force (number) Employed labour force Employed labour force (number) Employed labour force Want to work more hours, available (number) Employed labour force Doesn’t want more hours or not available (number) Not employed labour force Not employed labour force (number) Not employed labour force Unemployed labour force (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not in the labour force (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Available to work, but not seeking (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Seeking work, but not available (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Not seeking work, not available (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Want to work (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Doesn’t want to or can’t work (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of family/household care (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of education (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of retirement/old age (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of illness/disability (number) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of other reason (number)
Total male and female Total persons Bonaire 2022 17,710 12,840 1,630 11,220 4,870 390 4,480 290 30 4,160 250 3,910 350 810 1,750 650 340
Total male and female Total persons St. Eustatius 2022 2,480 1,810 110 1,700 670 70 600 130 0 470 10 460 20 140 180 60 60
Total male and female Total persons Saba 2022 1,510 1,010 90 920 500 30 470 0 10 460 10 450 10 200 170 20 40
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains yearly figures on the attachment of people to the labour market for the special municipalities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (the Caribbean Netherlands). The population of 15 to 74 years of age (excluding the institutionalized population) is divided into the employed labour force and the non-employed labour force. The employed labour force is subdivided on the basis of whether they want to work more or not. The non-employed labour force is subdivided into the unemployed and those not in the labour force. Those not in the labour force are subdivided based on the search and availability criteria. A division by sex, age and level of education is available.

Data available from: 2012

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

Changes as of 28 June 2023:
The figures of 2022 are added.

Changes as of 26 April 2019:
The figures of 2018 are added
Because of a programming error the figures about wanting to work more hours, and not wanting to work more hours in the previous version of this table were incorrect. Too little people were wrongly assigned to the group who wants to work more hours. This is corrected in this version of the table.
The figures about the highest level of education have been revised. The revision concerns people who attended common years of education (avo). Where they previously had an intermediate level of education, they now receive a low level of education, following the format used for the European Netherlands.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published every two years.

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 Caribbean Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old.
Employed labour force
People who have paid work.

This definition concerns people who live in the Caribbean 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 Caribbean 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.
Want to work more hours, available
People who want to work more hours within six months, assuming that their earnings also change, and who is directly available for this. The comparable term used by Eurostat is underemployed.

Up to and including 2014 people who want to work more hours were not asked whether they were directly available for this. This information is necessary to determine ‘underemployment’. The questionnaire is adjusted from 2016 and onwards so that the respondent will receive this question. The figures on want to work more hours in 2012 and 2014 only concern the people who want to work more hours. These figures are higher than from 2016 and onwards were it concerns the people who want to work more hours and who are directly available.


Doesn’t want more hours or not available
People who don’t want to work more hours within six months, or does want to work more, but is not directly available.
Not employed labour force
People who don't have paid work.

This definition concerns people who live in the Caribbean Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. The non-employed population consists of the unemployed labour force and the people not in the labour force. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.
Not employed labour force
People who don't have paid work.

This definition concerns people who live in the Caribbean Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. The non-employed population consists of the unemployed labour force and the people not in the labour force. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.
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 Caribbean 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.
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 Caribbean 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.
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 Caribbean 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.

Available to work, but not seeking
Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work.
Seeking work, but not available
Person is not directly available for work, but has recently looked for work.
Not seeking work, not available
Person is not directly available for work and also hasn’t recently looked for work.
Not seeking work, not available
Person is not directly available for work and also hasn’t recently looked for work.
Want to work
Person is not directly available for work and also hasn’t recently looked for work, but wants to have paid work.
Doesn’t want to or can’t work
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work.
Doesn’t want to or can’t work
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work.
Because of family/household care
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work because of the care for family or household.
Because of education
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work because of education.
Because of retirement/old age
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work because of (early) retirement or old age.
Because of illness/disability
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work because of an illness or disability.
Because of other reason
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work because of another reason.