More young people prefer education to a job

In the third quarter of 2010, one quarter of the Dutch population aged 15 to 64 years said they did not have or did not want a paid job of at least 12 hours a week. This is the equivalent of more than 2.7 million people. Although this group has decreased in size somewhat recently, the number of young people who do not want to or cannot work has increased.

More young people do not want to or cannot work

The number of people who say they do not want to or cannot work for at least 12 hours a week fell in nearly all age groups over 35 years in the period 2008-2010. The number of over-35s was nearly 90 thousand lower in the third quarter of 2010 than two years previously. The number of 15 to 24 year-olds who could not or did not want to work on the other hand rose by nearly 80 thousand. A slight rise has also been observed in the 25 to 34 years age group since the end of 2009.

People who do not want to or cannot work for at least 12 hours a week, by age

Fewer employed as well as unemployed young people

Unemployment among people younger than 25 was lower in the third quarter of 2010 than twelve months previously. But this is not because more young people are working: the number of employed young people was also lower. The reason is that more young people say they do no want to or cannot work.

Labour market position of 15 to 24 year-olds

More young people in education

The increase in the number of young people who do not want to or cannot work in the third quarter of 2010 was entirely caused by an increase of 60 thousand young people who say they cannot or do not want to work because they are in education. There is also an increase in this category among 25 to 34 year-olds, although at 10 thousand people it is smaller.

Reasons for not wanting to or not being able to work, 15-25 year-olds

Maico Hoksbergen and Hendrika Lautenbach