Labour participation; attachment to the labour market, 2003-2022

Labour participation; attachment to the labour market, 2003-2022

Sex Personal characteristics Periods Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Available to work, but not seeking Because of discouragement (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of retirement/old age (x 1.000)
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years 2022 1st quarter 2 0
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years 2022 1st quarter 5 1
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years 2022 1st quarter 1 0
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years 2022 1st quarter 4 0
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years 2022 1st quarter 19 1,597
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years 2022 1st quarter 2 1
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years 2022 1st quarter 7 133
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years 2022 1st quarter 10 1,463
Male Age: 15 to 24 years 2022 1st quarter 1 0
Male Age: 25 to 44 years 2022 1st quarter 2 1
Male Age: 25 to 34 years 2022 1st quarter 1 0
Male Age: 35 to 44 years 2022 1st quarter 2 0
Male Age: 45 to 74 years 2022 1st quarter 10 724
Male Age: 45 to 54 years 2022 1st quarter 0 0
Male Age: 55 to 64 years 2022 1st quarter 3 48
Male Age: 65 to 74 years 2022 1st quarter 6 675
Female Age: 15 to 24 years 2022 1st quarter 2 0
Female Age: 25 to 44 years 2022 1st quarter 3 0
Female Age: 25 to 34 years 2022 1st quarter 0 0
Female Age: 35 to 44 years 2022 1st quarter 3 0
Female Age: 45 to 74 years 2022 1st quarter 9 873
Female Age: 45 to 54 years 2022 1st quarter 1 1
Female Age: 55 to 64 years 2022 1st quarter 4 84
Female Age: 65 to 74 years 2022 1st quarter 4 788
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 for 2003-2022

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

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

Not employed labour force
People who don't 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. The non-employed population consists of the unemployed labour force and the people not in the labour force. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.
Not in the labour force
People who don’t have paid work, who haven’t recently looked for work recently or are not 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.
Available to work, but not seeking
Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work.
Because of discouragement
Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work because they expect little result.

Up to and including 2014, it was assumed that for people who do not want to work for 12 hours or more a week and who report a certain reason for this, the same reason applies if they wanted to work less than 12 hours a week but did not look for work. The questionnaire has now been adapted so that the respondent can also report another reason not to look for work for less than 12 hours a week. The group that reports discouragement as the reason for not looking for work, therefore, appears to be larger in size than before and the remaining group that has not looked for work for other reasons is therefore (equally) lower.
Not seeking work, not available
Person is not directly available for work and also hasn’t recently looked for work.
Doesn’t want to or can’t work
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work.
Because of retirement/old age
Person is not directly available for work, hasn’t recently looked for work and also doesn’t want to or can’t have paid work because of (early) retirement or old age.