Monthly labour participation and unemployment

Monthly labour participation and unemployment

Sex Age Periods Labour force Seasonally adjusted (x 1,000) Employed labour force Seasonally adjusted (x 1,000) Unemployed labour force Seasonally adjusted (x 1,000) Unemployment rate Seasonally adjusted (%) Gross labour participation Seasonally adjusted (%) Net labour participation Seasonally adjusted (%)
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 March 9,604 9,165 439 4.6 73.0 69.7
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 April 9,598 9,171 427 4.5 73.0 69.8
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 May 9,597 9,177 419 4.4 73.0 69.8
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 June 9,650 9,245 405 4.2 73.5 70.4
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 July 9,657 9,264 393 4.1 73.5 70.5
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 August 9,684 9,277 406 4.2 73.8 70.7
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 September 9,704 9,305 399 4.1 73.8 70.8
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 October 9,718 9,336 382 3.9 74.0 71.1
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 November 9,735 9,376 359 3.7 73.9 71.2
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2021 December 9,749 9,380 369 3.8 74.0 71.2
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2022 January 9,768 9,415 354 3.6 74.1 71.5
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2022 February 9,766 9,430 336 3.4 74.1 71.6
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2022 March 9,817 9,490 327 3.3 74.5 72.0
Total sex 15 to 74 years 2022 April 9,844 9,528 316 3.2 74.6 72.2
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains monthly, quarterly and yearly figures on the labour participation and unemployment in the Netherlands. The population of 15 to 75 years old (excluding the institutionalized population) is divided into the employed, the unemployed and the people who are not in in the labour force. The different groups are further broken down by sex and age. Next to the original monthly figures on the labour force you can also find monthly figures that are seasonally adjusted.

Data available from: January 2003

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are final.

Changes as of 18 April 2024:
The figures for March and 1st quarter 2024 have been added

When will new figures be published?
New figures on the most recent month are published monthly, in the third week of the month.

Description topics

Labour force
People
- who have paid work (employed labour force), or
- who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it (unemployed labour force).
This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.
Seasonally adjusted
Figures on the labour force after elimination of seasonal effects. For the yearly figures seasonally adjusted figures are not available because every single year deals with the same seasonal influences.
Employed labour force
People who have paid work.
This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.
Seasonally adjusted
Figures on the employed labour force after elimination of seasonal effects. For the yearly figures seasonally adjusted figures are not available because every single year deals with the same seasonal influences.
Unemployed labour force
People who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it.
This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.
Seasonally adjusted
Figures on the unemployed labour force after elimination of seasonal effects. For the yearly figures seasonally adjusted figures are not available because every single year deals with the same seasonal influences.
Unemployment rate
The unemployed labour force as a percentage of the (employed and unemployed) labour force.
This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old.
Seasonally adjusted
Unemployed labour force as a percentage of the total labour force after elimination of seasonal effects. For the yearly figures seasonally adjusted figures are not available because every single year deals with the same seasonal influences.
Gross labour participation
The percentage of the (employed and unemployed) labour force in the population (labour force and not in the labour force).
This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old.
Seasonally adjusted
Employed and unemployed labour force as a percentage of total population aged 15 until 65. For the yearly figures seasonally adjusted figures are not available because every single year deals with the same seasonal influences.
Net labour participation
The percentage of the employed labour force in the population (labour force and not in the labour force).
This definition concerns people who live in the Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old.
Seasonally adjusted
Employed labour force as a percentage of total population aged 15 until 65. For the yearly figures seasonally adjusted figures are not available because every single year deals with the same seasonal influences.