Caribbean Netherlands; labour participation, key figures

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Sex Age Level of education Labour force and not in the labour force (number) Not in the labour force (number)
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Total 24,000 6,040
1 Lower education 10,570 3,440
2 Intermediate education 8,770 1,720
3 Higher education 4,250 790
Unknown 420 100
15 to 24 years Total 2,920 1,430
1 Lower education 1,290 740
2 Intermediate education 1,450 610
3 Higher education 140 60
Unknown 50 30
25 to 44 years Total 9,450 740
1 Lower education 3,280 390
2 Intermediate education 4,120 200
3 Higher education 1,870 140
Unknown 190 10
25 to 34 years Total 4,510 350
1 Lower education 1,420 110
2 Intermediate education 2,060 120
3 Higher education 940 120
Unknown 90 0
35 to 44 years Total 4,950 390
1 Lower education 1,860 270
2 Intermediate education 2,060 90
3 Higher education 930 20
Unknown 100 10
45 to 54 years Total 4,270 480
1 Lower education 1,870 260
2 Intermediate education 1,360 130
3 Higher education 950 90
Unknown 80 20
45 to 74 years Total 11,630 3,870
1 Lower education 6,000 2,320
2 Intermediate education 3,200 900
3 Higher education 2,250 600
Unknown 180 60
55 to 64 years Total 4,590 1,140
1 Lower education 2,530 750
2 Intermediate education 1,180 240
3 Higher education 820 140
Unknown 60 10
65 to 74 years Total 2,780 2,250
1 Lower education 1,600 1,310
2 Intermediate education 660 530
3 Higher education 480 370
Unknown 40 40
Male 15 to 74 years Total 12,530 2,980
1 Lower education 6,180 1,730
2 Intermediate education 4,070 780
3 Higher education 1,960 410
Unknown 320 60
15 to 24 years Total 1,540 800
1 Lower education 800 440
2 Intermediate education 650 310
3 Higher education 50 20
Unknown 50 30
25 to 44 years Total 4,910 370
1 Lower education 2,050 220
2 Intermediate education 2,000 60
3 Higher education 710 80
Unknown 150 10
25 to 34 years Total 2,290 170
1 Lower education 930 40
2 Intermediate education 1,000 50
3 Higher education 300 80
Unknown 60 0
35 to 44 years Total 2,610 210
1 Lower education 1,110 190
2 Intermediate education 1,000 10
3 Higher education 400 10
Unknown 90 10
45 to 54 years Total 2,210 230
1 Lower education 1,140 110
2 Intermediate education 560 60
3 Higher education 460 50
Unknown 60 10
45 to 74 years Total 6,080 1,810
1 Lower education 3,340 1,070
2 Intermediate education 1,420 410
3 Higher education 1,210 300
Unknown 120 30
55 to 64 years Total 2,430 490
1 Lower education 1,340 320
2 Intermediate education 530 60
3 Higher education 520 100
Unknown 50 10
65 to 74 years Total 1,440 1,100
1 Lower education 860 640
2 Intermediate education 340 290
3 Higher education 230 160
Unknown 10 10
Female 15 to 74 years Total 11,380 3,020
1 Lower education 4,310 1,670
2 Intermediate education 4,680 930
3 Higher education 2,290 390
Unknown 100 30
15 to 24 years Total 1,360 610
1 Lower education 470 280
2 Intermediate education 800 300
3 Higher education 90 30
Unknown 0 0
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains yearly figures on labour participation for the special municipalities Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba (the Caribbean 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.

Data available from: 2012

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

Changes as of 7 July 2025:
The figures of 2024 are added.

Changes as of 30 October 2024:
The number of self-employed for the reporting years 2020 and 2022 has been corrected. The correction concerns a slight upward revision of the number of self-employed persons. The cause was an error in the software that deduces whether someone is self-employed based on the answers in the questionnaire. As a result, for some records the position in the job remained unknown, whereas it should have been self-employed (with employees). This has now been corrected.

Changes as of 26 April 2019:
The figures of 2018 are added.
The figures about the highest level of education have been revised. The revision concerns people who attended common years of education (avo). Where they previously had an intermediate level of education, they now receive a low level of education, following the format used for the European Netherlands.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published every two years.

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 Caribbean Netherlands (excluding the institutionalized population). The figures are usually presented for the population aged 15 to 74 years old.

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 Caribbean 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.