How are various population groups faring during the coronavirus crisis?

- Medical -

Which sector recorded the highest absenteeism rate?

Illness-related absenteeism among employees rose most rapidly in accommodation and food services in 2020. Last year, the rate of absenteeism was 3.7 percent, versus 2.7 percent one year previously. There was also a sharp increase in absenteeism in agriculture, care, construction, manufacturing and trade. Just as in 2018 and 2019, care had the highest rate of absenteeism of all sectors. Absenteeism among healthcare employees increased from 5.7 to 6.4 percent. Total absenteeism among employees in the private and public sector stood at 4.7 percent in 2020. In the education sector and in public administration, absenteeism fell to 4.8 and 5.1 percent respectively. An absenteeism rate of 5.1 percent means that of every 1,000 days worked, 51 were lost due to illness. The most recent figures on absenteeism by sector are available on StatLine.

Were men more likely to die of COVID-19 than women during the first wave of coronavirus?

As women are over-represented in the highest age groups, there are more deaths among women than among men. However, during the first wave, COVID-19 mortality was higher among men than among women. Adjusted for age differences, among others, men are twice as likely to die of COVID-19 as women.

Were older people more likely to die of COVID-19 than young people during the first wave of coronavirus?

The probability of dying of COVID-19 is strongly dependent on age. The older a person is, the greater the chance of dying of COVID-19. Therefore, there are many elderly people among COVID-19 deaths, but young people have also died of COVID-19. During the first wave, the probability of an 80-year-old dying of COVID-19 was over a thousand times greater than that of someone under 50. Of the deaths among people under 50, 4.2 percent were due to COVID-19.

Were people with a migration background more likely to die of COVID-19 during the first wave of coronavirus than people with a Dutch background?

Based on a first exploratory analysis, it can be provisionally concluded that the risk of dying of COVID-19 is slightly higher among people with a migration background than among people with a Dutch background. During the first epidemic wave, this was particularly visible in the three GGD regions: Amsterdam, Haaglanden and Rotterdam-Rijnmond. However, migrant groups are not one homogenous group: there is a high degree of diversity among residents with a migration background. In addition, the numbers of deaths are relatively small. Moreover, this preliminary conclusion is based on the first wave of coronavirus, with most of the sources of infection in the southeast, while people with a migration background mostly live in the Randstad.

Were low-income people more likely to die of COVID-19 during the first wave of coronavirus than high-income people?

There is a clear link between income and mortality: the lower the income, the higher the risk of death. This is also true for mortality due to COVID-19. However, COVID-19 did not increase the known differences in mortality rates between income groups. People in the lowest income group (the lowest twenty percent incomes) were twice as likely to die of COVID-19 during the first wave of coronavirus as people in the highest income group. The odds of the middle income groups were in between. Income made no difference to mortality from COVID-19 among people receiving institutional care.

Were people who received care more likely to die of COVID-19 during the first wave of coronavirus than people who did not receive care?

People receiving institutional care, such as residents of nursing homes, were fourteen times more likely to die of COVID-19 during the first wave of coronavirus than people without care. People receiving home care under the Long-Term Care Act (Wlz) were also (ten times) more likely to die of COVID-19.

Were there any regional differences in COVID-19 mortality during the first wave of coronavirus?

In the southeastern part of the country, the likelihood of dying of COVID-19 during the first wave (until June 2020) was six times higher than in the northeastern part, the least affected region of the country. The likelihood of dying of COVID-19 in the GGD regions of Amsterdam, Haaglanden and Rotterdam-Rijnmond was four times higher than in the northeastern part. This picture is in line with the role that the spring holidays and carnival played in the spread of coronavirus in the south of the Netherlands.

Are older people more willing to be vaccinated than young people?

The willingness to vaccinate increases with age. Among 16- to 29-year-olds, 64 percent intend to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or have already been vaccinated. Among he over 75s, this is 81 percent.

Are men more likely to be vaccinated than women?

Men are about as likely as women to intend to be vaccinated or have already been vaccinated (72 versus 70 percent).

Are higher educated people more likely to be vaccinated than lower educated people?

Among the over-25s, higher educated people (with a higher professional (HBO) or university (WO) qualification) are more likely to say they intend to be vaccinated or have already been vaccinated (77 percent) than those with a low education level (68 percent) and intermediate education level (69 percent).

Are any there differences in vaccination willingness by migration background?

Of people aged 16 years and over with a non-western migration background, just over half (52 percent) would like to be vaccinated or have already been vaccinated. Vaccination willingness is higher among people with a western migration background (69 percent) and with a Dutch background (74 percent). Even if differences in the age structure and education level of these population groups are taken into account, vaccination willingness among people with a non-western migration background is lower than among the other two groups.

- Labour and income -

Have more young or older people become income support recipients?

The number of persons on income support has risen most rapidly among young people under the age of 27. In June 2020, it was 7 percent higher than in the same month of 2019. The number of people on income support among 27 to 45-year-olds was similar to 2019, and among people aged 45 and over (up to state pension age) the number was 1 percent higher than a year earlier. The total number of persons on income support already increased slightly from November 2019 and rose sharply in the months of March and April 2020. After this, the increase continued and ended in June 2020. In total, the number of income support recipients increased by 3.6 percent from March to June 2020 inclusive. Since June 2020, it has been fluctuating. The most recent figures on income support recipients are available on StatLine.

How is employment among men and women developing?

In Q2 2020, the number of men and women in the active labour force dropped at a comparable rate. Relative to one year previously, the number of men in employment was 0.7 percent lower and the number of women in employment was 0.6 percent lower. In Q2 2021, the active labour force saw a year-on-year increase, for women slightly stronger than for men. Year-on-year, the number of men and women in work was up by 1.6 and 1.8 percent respectively. As a result, 4.8 million men and 4.2 million women belonged to the active labour force in Q2 2021.
StatLine

How is employment among young and older people developing?

The number of 15 to 24-year-olds in the active labour force fell sharply in Q2 2020. There were 7.1 percent fewer young people in employment compared to one year previously. In Q2 2021, there was an increase in the number of young people in employment (+4.2 percent). The active labour force grew in nearly all other age groups during the same period. Only the 45-54 age group experienced a decline of 1.9 percent. The most recent figues on employment can be found on StatLine. 
StatLine

How is employment among lower and higher educated developing?

In Q2 2020, the number of lower educated people in the active labour force was 10.5 percent down on the same quarter last year. In Q1 2021, the decrease was similar, at 10.1 percent. Many students who lost their jobs are also included here. The decline among people with an intermediate education level (MBO, levels 2-4 or only HAVO/VWO) was considerably smaller in both quarters. In Q1 2021, the active labour force included 4.3 percent fewer people with an intermediate education level than one year previously. In contrast, the number of higher educated people (HBO or WO) did not shrink at all, but grew considerably. In Q1 2021, the number of higher educated in the active labour force was 8.3 percent up on one year previously.
StatLine

Was the decline in the number of flex workers stronger than that for other types of workers?

In Q2 2020, the number of flexible employees in the labour force decreased by as much as 14.1 percent, while the number of permanent employees was still higher than one year previously. (Permanent employees have an employment contract for an indefinite period of time and a fixed number of hours per week). In Q1 2021, the loss of employment among flexible employees was smaller but substantial at the same time. The number of employees with a flexible employment contract was 6.7 percent lower than one year previously. The number of employees in permanent employment rose by 1.0 percent during this period. The number of self-employed rose as well, by 1.7 percent (the number of self-employed without employees (so-called zzp'ers) even rose by 3.5 percent). This does not mean, however, that self-employed persons had more work. In April and May last year in particular, they had considerably less to do than usual, but in December they were only working 2.5 hours a week less than one year previously. In Q1 2021, the decrease was limited to 1.3 hours per week.