Well-being ‘later’: human capital

Human capital refers to the quality of labour now and in the future. It encompasses factors such as workload pressure and productivity, as well as aspects such as health and education level. This is important for maintaining material well-being, but also for overall personal development. Education level, for example, correlates strongly with how much control people have over their lives and with their health.
  • The average number of hours worked per capita per year is increasing steadily.
  • Compared with other EU countries, relatively many people in the Netherlands have a high level and relatively few a medium level of education. The ratio between the number of people with these two education levels is becoming more and more unbalanced: the percentage of people with medium levels of education is decreasing while the percentage of those with high levels is increasing.
  • Healthy life expectancy remains stable. No trends indicate a decline in human capital.

Well-being 'later'

Human capital

804.8
hours worked per capita in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
13th
out of 22
in EU
in 2023
Hours worked
36.4%
of the population aged 15-74 have a higher education degree in 2023
The long-term trend is increasing (increase well-being)
7th
out of 27
in EU
in 2022
Higher educated population
62.4
years at birth in 2023
20th
out of 27
in EU
in 2021
Healthy life expectancy of women A)
64.1
years at birth in 2023
17th
out of 27
in EU
in 2021
Healthy life expectancy of men A)
Well-being 'later'
Theme Indicator Value Trend Position in EU Position in EU ranking
Human capital Hours worked 804.8 hours worked per capita in 2023 increasing (increase well-being) 13th out of 22 in 2023 Middle ranking
Human capital 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
Human capital Healthy life expectancy of women A) 62.4 years at birth in 2023 20th out of 27 in 2021 Middle ranking
Human capital Healthy life expectancy of men A) 64.1 years at birth in 2023 17th out of 27 in 2021 Middle ranking

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

Human capital is not only significant from an economic, but also from a social and societal point of view. The distribution of well-being among different groups in the population, for example, correlates strongly with education level (see also Distribution of well-being). The theme human capital in the ‘later’ dashboard examines how people can contribute to well-being from an economic perspective. Human capital comprises three components, including the volume of labour provided. Additionally, the monitor assesses education level, skills and the health of the population.

The average number of hours worked per capita per year is trending upwards, and is a basis for increasing well-being. Among the Dutch population aged 15 to 74 years, 36.4 percent have completed higher vocational or university education. The trend is upward, although there was a slight decrease in the most recent year. Life expectancy indicates how old people are expected to become, based on the current mortality risk. However, quality of life is also important. By combining health data with mortality data, we can calculate healthy life expectancy, which adds a qualitative element to ‘ordinary’ life expectancy. In the monitor, life expectancy at birth in perceived good health is used for this purpose. A boy born in 2023 is expected to live an average of 64.1 years in good health, a girl slightly shorter (62.4 years). Trends for this indicator are stable.

Obviously, the quantity and quality of labour – partly in relation to healthy life expectancy – are not only relevant for well-being ‘later’ but also for current well-being. Human capital thus encompasses several aspects that are addressed in well-being ‘here and now’. This theme within well-being ‘later’ also touches on SDG 3 Good health and well-being, SDG 4 Quality education, and SDG 8.2 Labour and leisure time.