SDG 8.2 Labour and leisure time
- Resources and opportunities for labour force participation in the Netherlands are extensive and they are increasing. Compared with other EU countries, Dutch job vacancy rates are high and unemployment is low. The vacancy rate is increasing, unused labour potential is decreasing, as is unemployment. In 2023, 3.6 percent of the labour force were unemployed, and 0.5 percent had been unemployed for longer than a year.
- An increasing share of the adult population are active in the labour force. The Netherlands has the highest net labour force participation rate in the EU, and the trend is upward.
- Dutch workers are working shorter hours. In 2023, Dutch workers worked an average 26.8 hours a week, placing the Netherlands 20th of 22 EU countries. The average hourly wage is high compared with other EU countries.
- The Netherlands has the highest percentage (33.6 percent) of employees with flexible work contracts, although the trend is downward.
- Work-related mental fatigue shows a rising trend.
- Compared with workers elsewhere in the EU, Dutch workers are very satisfied with their jobs. The Dutch are also relatively satisfied with the amount of leisure time they have, although international data on this aspect are quite dated. The percentage of employees worried about job security shows a downward trend. The same is the case for the share of workers who say they do not have a good work-life balance.
Dashboard and indicators
Resources and opportunities
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2022
Use
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2023
Outcomes
in EU
in 2023
in EU
in 2022
in EU
in 2021
Subjective assessment
in EU
in 2016
in EU
in 2017
in EU
in 2019
in EU
in 2018
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resources and opportunities | Job vacancy rate | 43 vacancies per 1,000 jobs on 31 December 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 1st out of 17 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Unemployment | 3.6% of the labour force in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 5th out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Long-term unemployment | 0.5% of the labour force had been unemployed for one year or more in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 3rd out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Resources and opportunities | Labour underutilisation | 11.4% of the extended labour force in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 18th out of 27 in 2022 | Middle ranking |
| Use | Net labour participation | 73.1% of population aged 15-74 in 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 1st out of 27 in 2022 | High ranking |
| Use | Weekly working hours | 26.8 hours worked per worker per week in 2023 | decreasing (decrease well-being) | 20th out of 22 in 2023 | Low ranking |
| Outcomes | Wages and salaries of employees | € 25.44 per hour (2015 prices) in 2022 | 2nd out of 22 in 2023 | High ranking | |
| Outcomes | Flexible employment contracts | 33.6% of employees in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 27th out of 27 in 2022 | Low ranking |
| Outcomes | Non-fatal accidents at work | 1,165 standardised incidence per 100 000 workers in 2021 | 16th out of 27 in 2021 | Middle ranking | |
| Outcomes | Work-related mental fatigue (employed) | 18.1% of employed (aged 15-74) suffered from work-related mental fatigue in 2023 | increasing (decrease well-being) | ||
| Subjective assessment | Work-life imbalance (employed) | 7.2% of employed (aged 15-74) reported an imbalance between work and private life in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 1st out of 27 in 2016 | High ranking |
| Subjective assessment | Concerns about job retention (employees) | 10.8% of employees aged 15-74 have concerns about keeping their job in 2023 | decreasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Subjective assessment | Satisfaction with work (employed) B) | 79.5% of employed persons aged 15-74 are satisfied or very satisfied in 2023 | 7th out of 27 in 2017 | High ranking | |
| Subjective assessment | Decision-making autonomy (employed) | 66.2% of employed persons aged 15-74 are free to decide how to do their work in 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | 8th out of 27 in 2019 | Middle ranking |
| Subjective assessment | Satisfaction with leisure time | 73.7% of the population over 18 are satisfied or very satisfied in 2023 | 6th out of 27 in 2018 | High ranking |
Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being
The objective of SDG 8 is twofold. The first dashboard of SDG 8 centred on making economic growth more sustainable and efficient from the viewpoint of innovation, business and the environment. The second aspect of SDG 8 addresses decent work and safe and acceptable working conditions for everybody, and especially for the most vulnerable groups. People benefit in a number of ways from appropriate and meaningful work: they earn money, take an active part in society and gain greater self-esteem. For many people, finding and keeping a job are major challenges, and they will often have difficulty earning enough money to make ends meet. Favourable working conditions, relevant and interesting work, and a good work-life balance are all important factors in this respect. The amount of leisure time available to workers is also relevant; people need to relax, keep up their social contacts and devote time to personal development, as well as care for others.
This dashboard presents a predominantly positive picture. Nine indicators show an improving medium-term trend in well-being (2016-2023) and movement towards the SDG goals, and only two indicators show an unfavourable trend (weekly working hours and work-related mental fatigue). Dutch positions in the European rankings are also mostly high. Only for the relatively low number of hours worked and the high percentage of flex-workers is the Netherlands straggling in the EU.
Resources and opportunities concern options for participating in the labour force and the number of jobs available. The medium-term trends here are all positive in terms of well-being.
Use concerns the employed labour force. In 2023, 73.1 percent of all 15- to 74-year-olds in the Netherlands had a job (net labour participation). This is 6.0 percentage points up on 2016. The Netherlands has the highest net labour participation rate in the EU, and the trend is rising (green).
Outcomes relate to earnings from work, working conditions and occupational safety. Corrected for purchasing power, the average hourly wage is high in the Netherlands compared with other EU countries.
Subjective assessment relates to whether people are satisfied with their jobs and with the amount of free time they have, and whether they are worried keeping their job. Three trends in this category of the dashboard indicate higher well-being.