Labour participation; attachment to the labour market
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.
Data available from: 2013
Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are final.
Changes as of November 22, 2024:
The figures for 3rd quarter 2024 are added.
Changes as of August 23, 2022:
None, this is a new table. This table has been compiled on the basis of the Labor Force Survey (LFS). Due to changes in the research design and the questionnaire of the LFS, the figures for 2021 are not automatically comparable with the figures up to and including 2020. The key figures in this table have therefore been made consistent with the (non-seasonally adjusted) figures in the table Arbeidsdeelname, kerncijfers seizoengecorrigeerd (see section 4), in which the outcomes for the period 2013-2020 have been recalculated to align with the outcomes from 2021. When further detailing the outcomes according to job and personal characteristics, there may nevertheless be differences from 2020 to 2021 as a result of the new method.
When will new figures be released?
New figures will be published on February, 2025.
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 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.
- Want to work more hours, available
- This group consists of people who work part-time (less than 35 hours a week) in their first job and want to work more hours within six months, assuming that their earnings also change. They are immediately available for this. The comparable term used by Eurostat is underemployed.
Up to and including 2012 it was assumed that people who work 12 hours or more a week and want to work more hours, cannot start within two weeks. This group was therefore not asked if they could start within two weeks. The questionnaire has now been adjusted so that the respondent will receive this question. The number of people that can start within two weeks is therefore greater than before and the remaining part of the employed labour force that does not want to work more hours or is not available, is therefore (equally) lower.
- Doesn’t want more hours or not available
- This group consists of people:
- who work full-time (35 hours or more a week) in their first job;
- who work part-time (less than 35 hours a week) in their first job and do not want to work more hours within six months (assuming that their earnings also change);
- who work part-time (less than 35 hours a week) in their first job, want to work more hours within six months, but are not immediately available for this;
Up to and including 2012 it was assumed that people who work 12 hours or more a week and want to work more hours, cannot start within two weeks. This group was therefore not asked if they could start within two weeks. The questionnaire has now been adjusted so that the respondent will receive this question. The number of people that can start within two weeks is therefore greater than before and the remaining part of the employed labour force that does not want to work more hours or is not available, is therefore (equally) lower.
- Not employed labour force
- People who don't 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. 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 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 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.- 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.
- 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.- 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.
- Available to work, but not seeking
- Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work.
- Available to work, but not seeking
- Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work.
- Because of discouragement
- Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work because they expect little result.
Up to and including 2014, it was assumed that for people who do not want to work for 12 hours or more a week and who report a certain reason for this, the same reason applies if they wanted to work less than 12 hours a week but did not look for work. The questionnaire has now been adapted so that the respondent can also report another reason not to look for work for less than 12 hours a week. The group that reports discouragement as the reason for not looking for work, therefore, appears to be larger in size than before and the remaining group that has not looked for work for other reasons is therefore (equally) lower.
- Because of other reason
- Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work because of other reason than expecting little result.
Up to and including 2014, it was assumed that for people who do not want to work for 12 hours or more a week and who report a certain reason for this, the same reason applies if they wanted to work less than 12 hours a week but did not look for work. The questionnaire has now been adapted so that the respondent can also report another reason not to look for work for less than 12 hours a week. The group that reports discouragement as the reason for not looking for work, therefore, appears to be larger in size than before and the remaining group that has not looked for work for other reasons is therefore (equally) lower.
- 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.
- 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.