Labour participation; key figures

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Age Highest educational level 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) Not in the labour force (x 1 000)
15 to 74 years Total 13,387 10,170 372 3.7 9,798 3,217
1 Primary, lower secondary 3,440 2,097 125 6.0 1,972 1,343
2 Upper secondary 4,913 3,816 128 3.3 3,688 1,097
3 Tertiary 4,957 4,215 118 2.8 4,097 742
Unknown 77 42 2 4.8 40 35
15 to 24 years Total 2,175 1,810 157 8.7 1,653 364
1 Primary, lower secondary 928 721 81 11.2 640 207
2 Upper secondary 942 817 56 6.8 761 124
3 Tertiary 302 270 21 7.6 250 32
Unknown 2 2 0 . 1 1
15 to 64 years Total 11,432 9,773 360 3.7 9,413 1,659
1 Primary, lower secondary 2,697 1,977 123 6.2 1,854 721
2 Upper secondary 4,269 3,684 123 3.4 3,561 585
3 Tertiary 4,404 4,072 112 2.8 3,960 332
Unknown 62 41 2 5.0 39 21
25 to 44 years Total 4,556 4,105 125 3.0 3,980 451
1 Primary, lower secondary 594 439 23 5.2 416 155
2 Upper secondary 1,545 1,382 40 2.9 1,342 163
3 Tertiary 2,393 2,266 61 2.7 2,206 127
Unknown 24 17 1 7.7 16 7
25 to 34 years Total 2,356 2,139 75 3.5 2,064 217
1 Primary, lower secondary 247 179 12 6.6 167 68
2 Upper secondary 808 724 24 3.3 700 84
3 Tertiary 1,292 1,229 38 3.1 1,190 63
Unknown 9 7 1 . 6 3
35 to 44 years Total 2,200 1,966 50 2.5 1,916 234
1 Primary, lower secondary 347 260 11 4.2 249 87
2 Upper secondary 737 658 16 2.5 642 79
3 Tertiary 1,101 1,038 22 2.2 1,015 63
Unknown 15 10 0 . 10 4
45 to 54 years Total 2,248 1,969 36 1.8 1,933 279
1 Primary, lower secondary 451 336 8 2.4 328 115
2 Upper secondary 833 735 13 1.7 722 98
3 Tertiary 945 884 15 1.7 870 60
Unknown 20 14 1 . 13 6
45 to 64 years Total 4,702 3,858 78 2.0 3,780 844
1 Primary, lower secondary 1,175 817 19 2.4 797 358
2 Upper secondary 1,782 1,484 27 1.9 1,457 298
3 Tertiary 1,709 1,535 31 2.0 1,504 174
Unknown 35 22 1 2.9 21 13
45 to 74 years Total 6,657 4,255 90 2.1 4,165 2,402
1 Primary, lower secondary 1,918 937 22 2.3 915 981
2 Upper secondary 2,426 1,616 32 2.0 1,585 810
3 Tertiary 2,261 1,678 36 2.2 1,642 584
Unknown 51 24 1 2.7 23 27
55 to 64 years Total 2,453 1,889 42 2.2 1,847 564
1 Primary, lower secondary 724 481 11 2.3 469 243
2 Upper secondary 950 750 15 2.0 735 200
3 Tertiary 764 651 16 2.5 635 114
Unknown 16 8 0 . 8 7
65 to 74 years Total 1,955 397 12 3.1 385 1,558
1 Primary, lower secondary 743 121 3 2.2 118 622
2 Upper secondary 644 132 4 3.1 128 512
3 Tertiary 552 143 5 3.8 137 410
Unknown 16 2 0 . 2 14
15 to 19 years Total 1,007 796 87 10.9 709 212
1 Primary, lower secondary 753 579 68 11.7 512 174
2 Upper secondary 248 211 18 8.8 192 37
3 Tertiary 6 5 1 . 5 1
Unknown 0 0 0 . 0 0
20 to 24 years Total 1,168 1,015 70 6.9 944 153
1 Primary, lower secondary 175 142 13 9.1 129 34
2 Upper secondary 694 606 37 6.1 569 87
3 Tertiary 296 265 20 7.6 245 31
Unknown 2 1 0 . 1 1
25 to 29 years Total 1,161 1,051 43 4.0 1,008 110
1 Primary, lower secondary 110 78 6 7.7 72 32
2 Upper secondary 407 363 15 4.0 348 44
3 Tertiary 640 607 22 3.6 585 33
Unknown 3 2 0 . 2 1
30 to 34 years Total 1,196 1,088 32 3.0 1,055 108
1 Primary, lower secondary 137 101 6 5.8 95 36
2 Upper secondary 401 361 9 2.6 352 40
3 Tertiary 652 621 16 2.6 605 30
Unknown 6 4 1 . 4 2
35 to 39 years Total 1,132 1,015 27 2.6 988 117
1 Primary, lower secondary 167 125 7 5.2 119 42
2 Upper secondary 376 335 9 2.6 327 41
3 Tertiary 583 550 11 2.0 539 33
Unknown 6 5 0 . 4 2
40 to 44 years Total 1,068 951 23 2.4 927 117
1 Primary, lower secondary 180 134 4 3.3 130 46
2 Upper secondary 361 323 8 2.4 315 38
3 Tertiary 518 488 11 2.3 477 30
Unknown 9 6 0 . 6 3
45 to 49 years Total 1,038 916 18 1.9 898 122
1 Primary, lower secondary 192 144 5 3.2 140 48
2 Upper secondary 369 327 7 2.0 320 42
3 Tertiary 466 438 6 1.5 431 29
Unknown 11 7 0 . 7 3
50 to 54 years Total 1,210 1,053 18 1.7 1,034 157
1 Primary, lower secondary 259 192 3 1.8 188 67
2 Upper secondary 464 408 6 1.5 402 56
3 Tertiary 478 447 8 1.9 438 31
Unknown 9 6 0 . 6 2
55 to 59 years Total 1,255 1,045 20 2.0 1,024 210
1 Primary, lower secondary 336 241 6 2.6 234 95
2 Upper secondary 495 424 7 1.6 417 71
3 Tertiary 416 376 7 1.9 369 39
Unknown 8 4 0 . 4 4
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.

Data available from: 2013

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

Changes as of February 14, 2025:
The figures for the fourth quarter and the year 2024 have been added.

Changes as of November 14, 2024:
The figures for 3rd quarter 2024 are added.
Figures have been added on labor participation based on whether or not the state pension age has been reached.

Changes as of August 17, 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 in April 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 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.
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.