Labour participation; key figures, 2003-2022

Labour participation; key figures, 2003-2022

Sex Age Highest educational level Periods Labour force and not in the labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Employed labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Employee Employee (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Employee Permanent employee (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Employee Flexible employee (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Self-employed person Self-employed person (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Self-employed person Self-employed without employees (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Self-employed person Self-employed with employees (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Professional status Self-employed person Contributing family worker (x 1 000)
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Total 2022 1st quarter 13,175 9,768 9,412 7,926 5,296 2,630 1,486 1,120 336 31
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 3,394 1,934 1,819 1,583 848 734 236 167 59 10
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 4,883 3,742 3,614 3,071 2,033 1,038 543 401 126 16
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 4,804 4,038 3,928 3,233 2,390 843 695 541 149 5
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 94 54 52 39 25 14 13 11 2 0
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2022 1st quarter 2,137 1,708 1,578 1,510 304 1,207 68 59 3 5
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 900 668 604 587 80 507 17 13 1 3
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 943 787 735 697 162 536 37 33 2 2
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 292 252 239 226 62 163 13 12 0 1
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Total male and female 15 to 64 years Total 2022 1st quarter 11,241 9,460 9,123 7,766 5,205 2,561 1,356 1,014 318 25
Total male and female 15 to 64 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 2,599 1,845 1,737 1,528 812 716 209 147 54 8
Total male and female 15 to 64 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 4,254 3,632 3,509 3,013 2,004 1,009 496 365 118 13
Total male and female 15 to 64 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 4,308 3,931 3,827 3,187 2,364 822 640 492 144 4
Total male and female 15 to 64 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 79 52 50 39 25 14 12 10 2 0
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Total 2022 1st quarter 4,356 3,905 3,787 3,292 2,367 925 496 376 113 6
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 508 373 352 301 204 97 52 39 12 1
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 1,476 1,314 1,277 1,106 812 295 170 127 41 3
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 2,342 2,195 2,136 1,867 1,342 525 269 207 59 2
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 30 23 22 17 9 8 5 4 1 0
Total male and female 25 to 34 years Total 2022 1st quarter 2,259 2,057 1,981 1,791 1,168 622 190 157 31 2
Total male and female 25 to 34 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 206 152 142 125 77 48 17 14 2 0
Total male and female 25 to 34 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 751 675 651 576 383 193 75 57 17 1
Total male and female 25 to 34 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 1,288 1,217 1,176 1,080 703 377 96 83 12 1
Total male and female 25 to 34 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 15 12 12 9 5 4 3 2 0 0
Total male and female 35 to 44 years Total 2022 1st quarter 2,097 1,848 1,806 1,501 1,199 302 306 219 82 4
Total male and female 35 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 302 221 211 175 126 49 35 24 10 1
Total male and female 35 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 726 639 626 530 428 102 95 70 24 2
Total male and female 35 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 1,055 978 960 787 639 148 173 124 48 2
Total male and female 35 to 44 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 15 11 10 8 4 4 2 2 0 0
Total male and female 45 to 54 years Total 2022 1st quarter 2,345 2,059 2,020 1,598 1,348 250 422 297 120 5
Total male and female 45 to 54 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 473 346 339 273 215 58 67 40 23 3
Total male and female 45 to 54 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 901 805 788 640 541 98 148 103 44 2
Total male and female 45 to 54 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 946 891 877 673 582 91 204 151 52 0
Total male and female 45 to 54 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 26 16 16 12 10 2 3 2 1 0
Total male and female 45 to 64 years Total 2022 1st quarter 4,748 3,847 3,757 2,964 2,535 429 793 579 202 13
Total male and female 45 to 64 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 1,191 803 781 641 529 112 140 95 41 4
Total male and female 45 to 64 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 1,834 1,532 1,497 1,209 1,031 179 288 205 75 7
Total male and female 45 to 64 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 1,675 1,484 1,452 1,094 960 134 358 272 85 1
Total male and female 45 to 64 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 49 28 27 20 16 4 7 6 1 0
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Total 2022 1st quarter 6,683 4,155 4,047 3,124 2,625 498 923 685 219 20
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 1,986 893 863 695 565 130 168 115 46 7
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 2,463 1,641 1,602 1,268 1,059 208 335 241 83 11
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 2,170 1,592 1,553 1,140 985 155 413 321 90 2
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 63 30 29 20 16 5 8 7 1 0
Total male and female 55 to 64 years Total 2022 1st quarter 2,403 1,789 1,738 1,366 1,187 179 372 282 81 8
Total male and female 55 to 64 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 719 457 442 368 314 53 74 55 17 2
Total male and female 55 to 64 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 933 727 709 570 489 81 140 103 31 6
Total male and female 55 to 64 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 728 593 575 421 377 43 154 121 32 1
Total male and female 55 to 64 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 23 12 12 8 6 2 4 4 0 0
Total male and female 65 to 74 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,934 308 290 160 91 69 130 106 18 6
Total male and female 65 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 795 89 82 55 36 19 27 20 5 3
Total male and female 65 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 629 109 105 58 29 29 47 36 8 3
Total male and female 65 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 496 108 101 46 26 21 55 49 5 1
Total male and female 65 to 74 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 14 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
Total male and female 15 to 19 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,016 767 692 675 68 607 17 14 0 3
Total male and female 15 to 19 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 753 553 495 484 48 436 11 9 0 3
Total male and female 15 to 19 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 254 208 191 185 20 166 6 5 0 1
Total male and female 15 to 19 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 7 5 5 4 0 4 1 1 0 0
Total male and female 15 to 19 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Total male and female 20 to 24 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,121 941 886 836 236 600 50 45 3 2
Total male and female 20 to 24 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 147 115 108 103 32 71 6 4 1 0
Total male and female 20 to 24 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 689 579 544 512 142 370 32 29 2 1
Total male and female 20 to 24 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 285 247 234 221 62 159 13 12 0 1
Total male and female 20 to 24 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total male and female 25 to 29 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,121 1,026 986 907 535 373 79 70 8 0
Total male and female 25 to 29 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 89 65 60 52 32 21 8 7 1 0
Total male and female 25 to 29 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 372 338 327 293 178 115 34 28 6 0
Total male and female 25 to 29 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 652 616 593 558 323 235 35 34 1 0
Total male and female 25 to 29 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 7 6 6 5 2 2 1 1 0 0
Total male and female 30 to 34 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,138 1,030 995 883 634 250 111 87 23 2
Total male and female 30 to 34 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 116 87 82 73 46 27 9 7 1 0
Total male and female 30 to 34 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 378 337 324 284 206 78 41 29 11 1
Total male and female 30 to 34 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 636 600 583 522 380 142 61 50 10 1
Total male and female 30 to 34 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 8 6 6 5 2 2 1 1 0 0
Total male and female 35 to 39 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,062 945 921 779 607 172 142 104 35 2
Total male and female 35 to 39 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 137 99 92 77 56 22 15 9 5 0
Total male and female 35 to 39 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 349 306 301 253 202 51 48 37 10 1
Total male and female 35 to 39 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 567 535 522 445 347 97 78 56 20 1
Total male and female 35 to 39 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 9 6 6 4 2 2 2 1 0 0
Total male and female 40 to 44 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,035 903 885 721 591 130 164 115 47 2
Total male and female 40 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 165 122 118 98 71 27 20 15 5 1
Total male and female 40 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 377 333 325 277 226 51 48 32 15 1
Total male and female 40 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 488 443 437 342 292 50 95 68 27 0
Total male and female 40 to 44 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 6 5 4 4 2 2 0 0 0 0
Total male and female 45 to 49 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,075 955 940 747 629 118 193 132 59 2
Total male and female 45 to 49 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 194 139 137 108 84 24 29 18 10 1
Total male and female 45 to 49 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 392 359 352 288 245 43 64 43 21 1
Total male and female 45 to 49 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 477 450 445 346 296 49 99 71 28 0
Total male and female 45 to 49 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 12 7 6 6 5 1 1 1 0 0
Total male and female 50 to 54 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,271 1,104 1,080 851 719 132 228 164 61 3
Total male and female 50 to 54 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 279 207 202 165 131 34 37 22 13 2
Total male and female 50 to 54 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 508 446 436 352 297 55 84 60 23 1
Total male and female 50 to 54 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 469 441 432 327 286 41 105 81 24 0
Total male and female 50 to 54 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 14 10 9 7 5 2 3 2 1 0
Total male and female 55 to 59 years Total 2022 1st quarter 1,253 1,031 1,006 791 683 108 215 162 49 4
Total male and female 55 to 59 years 1 Lower education 2022 1st quarter 336 237 229 193 165 29 36 28 8 0
Total male and female 55 to 59 years 2 Intermediate education 2022 1st quarter 508 434 424 341 292 49 83 59 21 3
Total male and female 55 to 59 years 3 Higher education 2022 1st quarter 396 352 345 252 223 28 93 73 20 0
Total male and female 55 to 59 years Unknown 2022 1st quarter 13 8 8 5 3 2 3 3 0 0
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains quarterly and yearly figures on labour participation in the Netherlands. The population of 15 to 74 years of age (excluding the institutionalized population) is divided into the employed labour force, the unemployed labour force and those not in the labour force. The employed labour force is subdivided on the basis of the professional status, and the average working hours. A division by sex, age and level of education is available.

Due to changes in the survey design and the questionnaire of the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a revision of the figures for 2021 was carried out in the first quarter of 2022.
As a result, the numbers of 2021 and later will not be comparable to the years 2003-2020.

Data available from: 2003-2022

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

Changes as of Januariy 16, 2023:
The periods were still indicated in Dutch. That has been converted to English.

Changes as of August 17, 2022:
None, the table has been discontinued.

When will new figures be released?
Not applicable. This table has been replaced, see paragraph 3 for a link to the new table.

Description topics

Labour force and not in the labour force
People who are part of the employed labour force, the unemployed labour force or who are 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 75 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

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.
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.

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.
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.
Professional status
Classification of the employed labour force into:
Employee
-  permanent
-  flexible
Self-employed
-  without employees (solo self-employed)
-  with employees
-  contributing family worker

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.
Employee
A person who makes arrangements in a collective agreement for labour purposes and who is being paid in return.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.

Employee
A person who makes arrangements in a collective agreement for labour purposes and who is being paid in return.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.

Permanent employee
An employee with an employment contract for an indefinite period and for a fixed number of hours.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.

Flexible employee
An employee with an employment contract for a limited period or a flexible number of hours. Enclosed here are: - Temporary employee, permanent prospect - Temporary employee, >=1 year - Temporary employee, <1 year - On-call worker (including permanent and temporary employees with flexible hours) - Temporary agency worker - Employee flex, contract unknown.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.
Self-employed person
A person who works for his/her own account and risk
-  in an own company or practice (self-employed entrepreneur), or
-  as an owner-manager, or
-  in the company or practice of a family member (contributing family worker), or
-  as another self-employed person (for example in an independent profession).

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.

Self-employed person
A person who works for his/her own account and risk
-  in an own company or practice (self-employed entrepreneur), or
-  as an owner-manager, or
-  in the company or practice of a family member (contributing family worker), or
-  as another self-employed person (for example in an independent profession).

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.
Self-employed without employees
A person who works for his/her own account and risk
-  in an own company or practice (self-employed entrepreneur), or
-  as an owner-manager, or
-  as another self-employed person (for example in an independent profession), and
-  who has no employees.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.

Self-employed with employees
A person who works for his/her own account and risk
-  in an own company or practice (self-employed entrepreneur), or
-  as an owner-manager, and
-  who has employees.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.

Contributing family worker
A person who works, not on the basis of a an explicit employment contract, in the company or practice of the partner or parents.

When a person has more than one job, the job in which most hours are worked, is used.