SDG 4 Quality education
- Teacher shortages are increasing in the Netherlands. The number of employee hours worked in education is rising faster than the population is growing. But the vacancy rate in the education sector is also trending upwards and is high compared with other countries in Europe.
- Participation in education in the Netherlands is relatively high and the trend is rising. Fewer and fewer youngsters are leaving school prematurely and more and more adults participate in some form of education or training (‘lifelong learning’).
- Compared with other EU countries, the Netherlands has relatively many people with a high level of education and relatively few with only secondary education. The latter group is decreasing, while the share with higher education is increasing.
- Specific skill levels vary. Numeracy and digital skills of the Dutch population are among the highest in the EU, but Dutch reading skills put the country near the bottom of the EU ranking.
- Satisfaction with education opportunities is high in the Netherlands and the medium-term trend is rising.
Dashboard and indicators
Resources and opportunities
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
Use
in EU
in 2021
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
Outcomes
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2023
Subjective assessment
in EU
in 2017
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resources and opportunities | Government expenditure on education | 5.1% of gross domestic product in 2022 | 11th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking | |
| Resources and opportunities | Job vacancy rate in education | 21 vacancies per 1,000 jobs on 31 December in 2023 | increasing (decrease well-being) | 18th out of 25 in 2022 | Low ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Hours worked in education | 44.7 hours worked per capita in 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 20th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking |
| Use | Participation in pre-school education | 96.9% of 4-year-olds in pre-school in 2021 | 7th out of 26 in 2021 | High ranking | |
| Use | Early school leavers | 5.6% of the population aged 18-24 in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 7th out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Use | Lifelong learning | 23.0% of the population aged 25-74 did a course in preceding 4 weeks in 2022 | increasing (increase well-being) | 3rd out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Outcomes | Population with secondary education | 37.0% of the population aged 15-74 with completed secondary education in 2023 | decreasing (decrease well-being) | 21st out of 27 in 2022 | Low ranking |
| Outcomes | Higher educated population | 36.4% of the population aged 15-74 have a higher education degree in 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 7th out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Outcomes | Pupil numeracy skills B) | 493 average PISA-score of 15 year-olds in 2022 | 2nd out of 26 in 2022 | High ranking | |
| Outcomes | Pupil reading skills B) | 459 average PISA-score of 15 year-olds in 2022 | 20th out of 26 in 2022 | Low ranking | |
| Outcomes | Digital skills B) | 82.7% of the population (16-74) have at least basic computer skills in 2023 | 1st out of 26 in 2023 | High ranking | |
| Subjective assessment | Satisfaction with learning opportunities | 83.5% of the population over 18 are satisfied in 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 14th out of 27 in 2017 | Middle ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
According to SDG 4, everyone should have access to a good education. Appropriate and accessible education is important for all age groups and in all stages of life, from nursery school and primary education to vocational and higher education, followed by lifelong learning. Education ensures that the present and the future population have the right skills to perform in a knowledge-intensive environment and to play a full and active role in civil society.
Dutch education policy focuses on guaranteeing and improving the quality of education and creating opportunities for young people through education, training or work. The Dutch government has also put measures in place to promote and stimulate ‘lifelong learning’. In the context of this SDG, education therefore includes initial education and further self-development through education and training courses.
The trends in the dashboard mostly point to stable or increasing well-being. Where sufficient data are available to determine medium-term trends for 2016-2023, they are favourable for five indicators and unfavourable for two.
Resources and opportunities relate to the range and affordability of available education. From the perspective of well-being and the achievement of the SDGs, the rising trend in hours worked in education is favourable. In 2023 this was on average 44.7 hours per capita, up from 40 hours per capita at the start of the trend period in 2016. However, the rising vacancy rate in education indicates increasing teacher shortages. The Netherlands is among the countries with the most vacancies per thousand jobs in the EU.
Use refers to participation in education.
Outcomes concern education attainment levels and specific skill levels.
Subjective assessment refers to how people experience education and their education opportunities. Satisfaction with education opportunities is high: in 2023, 83.5 percent of the adult population in the Netherlands were satisfied, around the same share as in 2022; the medium-term trend is rising. The current labour market tension may also be a factor here, with employers perhaps providing extra training opportunities for their employees.