Caribbean Netherlands; labour participation, key figures

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Sex Age Level of education Labour force and not in the labour force (number) Labour force Labour force (number) Labour force Unemployed labour force (number) Labour force Unemployment rate (%) Labour force Employed labour force Employed labour force (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Full-time (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time Less than 20 working hours a week Less than 20 working hours a week (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time Less than 20 working hours a week Less than 12 working hours a week (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time Less than 20 working hours a week 12 to 19 working hours a week (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time 20 to 34 working hours a week 20 to 34 working hours a week (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time 20 to 34 working hours a week 20 to 27 working hours a week (number) Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Part-time 20 to 34 working hours a week 28 to 34 working hours a week (number) Not in the labour force (number)
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Total 24,000 17,960 420 2.3 17,540 14,560 670 320 350 2,310 940 1,380 6,040
1 Lower education 10,570 7,130 250 3.5 6,880 5,600 360 160 200 920 420 500 3,440
2 Intermediate education 8,770 7,050 150 2.1 6,900 5,870 190 110 80 840 310 530 1,720
3 Higher education 4,250 3,460 20 0.5 3,440 2,850 100 40 60 500 180 320 790
Unknown 420 320 10 1.9 310 250 20 10 10 50 20 40 100
15 to 24 years Total 2,920 1,490 60 4.3 1,430 1,000 130 90 30 310 110 200 1,430
1 Lower education 1,290 550 20 4.4 530 350 90 60 30 90 50 30 740
2 Intermediate education 1,450 840 40 4.9 800 540 40 30 10 220 50 170 610
3 Higher education 140 90 0 . 90 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 60
Unknown 50 20 0 . 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 30
25 to 44 years Total 9,450 8,710 190 2.1 8,530 7,540 220 110 110 770 270 500 740
1 Lower education 3,280 2,890 110 3.7 2,790 2,380 90 60 30 320 130 190 390
2 Intermediate education 4,120 3,920 70 1.8 3,850 3,480 100 50 50 270 90 180 200
3 Higher education 1,870 1,720 10 0.3 1,720 1,520 20 0 20 170 60 110 140
Unknown 190 180 10 . 170 150 10 10 0 20 0 10 10
25 to 34 years Total 4,510 4,160 90 2.1 4,070 3,580 80 40 40 410 140 270 350
1 Lower education 1,420 1,310 40 2.8 1,270 1,100 20 10 10 150 60 90 110
2 Intermediate education 2,060 1,950 40 2.1 1,910 1,740 60 30 30 110 20 100 120
3 Higher education 940 820 0 0.4 820 680 0 0 0 140 50 80 120
Unknown 90 80 10 . 80 70 10 10 0 10 0 0 0
35 to 44 years Total 4,950 4,560 100 2.2 4,450 3,960 140 70 60 360 130 230 390
1 Lower education 1,860 1,590 70 4.4 1,520 1,280 70 50 20 160 60 100 270
2 Intermediate education 2,060 1,970 30 1.4 1,940 1,750 40 20 20 150 70 90 90
3 Higher education 930 900 0 0.3 900 850 20 0 20 30 10 30 20
Unknown 100 100 0 . 100 90 0 0 0 10 0 10 10
45 to 54 years Total 4,270 3,780 100 2.5 3,690 3,070 120 40 70 500 200 300 480
1 Lower education 1,870 1,620 80 4.8 1,540 1,310 60 10 60 170 70 100 260
2 Intermediate education 1,360 1,230 20 1.3 1,220 1,060 10 10 0 140 80 60 130
3 Higher education 950 870 0 0.2 870 680 40 30 20 150 40 110 90
Unknown 80 70 0 . 70 30 0 0 0 40 10 20 20
45 to 74 years Total 11,630 7,750 170 2.2 7,590 6,030 320 110 210 1,240 560 680 3,870
1 Lower education 6,000 3,680 120 3.2 3,570 2,870 190 40 150 520 240 270 2,320
2 Intermediate education 3,200 2,300 40 1.7 2,260 1,850 60 30 20 350 180 180 900
3 Higher education 2,250 1,650 10 0.7 1,640 1,240 70 40 30 330 130 210 600
Unknown 180 120 0 . 120 80 10 0 0 40 10 20 60
55 to 64 years Total 4,590 3,450 50 1.4 3,400 2,710 130 40 90 560 230 330 1,140
1 Lower education 2,530 1,780 20 1.0 1,760 1,390 80 10 70 290 140 150 750
2 Intermediate education 1,180 940 20 2.5 910 740 20 20 0 160 60 100 240
3 Higher education 820 680 10 0.9 670 540 20 0 20 110 30 80 140
Unknown 60 60 0 . 60 50 10 0 0 0 0 0 10
65 to 74 years Total 2,780 530 30 4.9 500 250 80 30 50 180 130 50 2,250
1 Lower education 1,600 290 20 . 270 170 50 20 20 60 40 20 1,310
2 Intermediate education 660 130 0 . 130 50 20 0 20 60 40 20 530
3 Higher education 480 110 10 . 100 30 10 10 0 70 60 10 370
Unknown 40 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
Male 15 to 74 years Total 12,530 9,550 280 2.9 9,270 8,010 370 180 190 890 330 560 2,980
1 Lower education 6,180 4,450 170 3.7 4,290 3,680 230 100 140 380 170 210 1,730
2 Intermediate education 4,070 3,290 100 3.1 3,190 2,840 80 50 30 260 80 190 780
3 Higher education 1,960 1,560 20 1.0 1,540 1,280 40 30 20 220 80 140 410
Unknown 320 250 0 . 250 210 10 10 0 30 0 30 60
15 to 24 years Total 1,540 740 30 4.2 710 480 80 60 30 150 10 140 800
1 Lower education 800 360 10 . 350 270 50 20 30 30 0 30 440
2 Intermediate education 650 340 20 . 310 160 30 30 0 120 10 110 310
3 Higher education 50 30 0 . 30 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 20
Unknown 50 20 0 . 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 30
25 to 44 years Total 4,910 4,530 140 3.1 4,390 4,090 100 70 20 210 80 130 370
1 Lower education 2,050 1,830 80 4.5 1,740 1,570 50 50 0 120 50 80 220
2 Intermediate education 2,000 1,940 60 2.9 1,890 1,830 40 20 20 20 0 20 60
3 Higher education 710 620 0 0.5 620 570 0 0 0 60 30 30 80
Unknown 150 140 0 . 140 130 10 10 0 10 0 10 10
25 to 34 years Total 2,290 2,130 70 3.2 2,060 1,890 10 10 0 160 80 80 170
1 Lower education 930 900 40 3.9 870 780 10 0 0 80 50 40 40
2 Intermediate education 1,000 950 30 3.2 920 900 0 0 0 10 0 10 50
3 Higher education 300 230 0 . 220 170 0 0 0 60 30 30 80
Unknown 60 50 0 . 50 50 10 10 0 0 0 0 0
35 to 44 years Total 2,610 2,410 70 3.1 2,330 2,200 80 60 20 50 0 50 210
1 Lower education 1,110 930 50 5.2 880 790 40 40 0 40 0 40 190
2 Intermediate education 1,000 990 30 2.6 970 930 40 20 20 10 0 0 10
3 Higher education 400 400 0 . 400 400 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Unknown 90 90 0 . 90 80 0 0 0 10 0 10 10
45 to 54 years Total 2,210 1,980 50 2.4 1,940 1,720 70 20 50 150 50 100 230
1 Lower education 1,140 1,030 50 4.4 990 890 60 10 50 50 30 10 110
2 Intermediate education 560 490 0 0.0 490 460 0 0 0 30 10 20 60
3 Higher education 460 410 0 . 410 340 20 20 0 60 0 60 50
Unknown 60 50 0 . 50 30 0 0 0 20 0 20 10
45 to 74 years Total 6,080 4,270 110 2.5 4,160 3,430 190 60 140 540 240 290 1,810
1 Lower education 3,340 2,270 70 3.2 2,190 1,840 130 30 110 230 120 110 1,070
2 Intermediate education 1,420 1,010 20 2.3 990 850 10 0 10 120 70 60 410
3 Higher education 1,210 910 10 1.3 890 680 40 30 20 170 60 110 300
Unknown 120 90 0 . 90 60 10 0 0 20 0 20 30
55 to 64 years Total 2,430 1,950 40 1.8 1,910 1,580 80 10 80 250 90 160 490
1 Lower education 1,340 1,020 10 0.6 1,010 830 50 0 50 130 50 80 320
2 Intermediate education 530 470 20 4.9 440 380 0 0 0 60 40 20 60
3 Higher education 520 420 10 . 420 340 20 0 20 60 0 60 100
Unknown 50 40 0 . 40 40 10 0 0 0 0 0 10
65 to 74 years Total 1,440 340 30 . 320 140 40 30 10 150 110 40 1,100
1 Lower education 860 220 20 . 200 120 20 20 0 50 40 20 640
2 Intermediate education 340 50 0 . 50 10 10 0 10 40 20 20 290
3 Higher education 230 70 10 . 70 10 10 10 0 60 60 0 160
Unknown 10 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Female 15 to 74 years Total 11,380 8,360 140 1.7 8,220 6,520 300 140 160 1,410 600 800 3,020
1 Lower education 4,310 2,650 80 3.1 2,570 1,890 130 70 70 540 260 280 1,670
2 Intermediate education 4,680 3,740 50 1.3 3,700 3,020 110 60 50 560 230 330 930
3 Higher education 2,290 1,900 0 0.2 1,900 1,570 50 20 40 280 100 180 390
Unknown 100 70 10 . 60 40 0 0 0 20 10 10 30
15 to 24 years Total 1,360 750 30 4.5 720 510 50 40 10 160 90 60 610
1 Lower education 470 190 10 . 180 80 40 40 0 60 50 10 280
2 Intermediate education 800 510 20 . 490 380 10 0 10 100 40 60 300
3 Higher education 90 60 0 . 60 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 30
Unknown 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 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.

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 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.
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 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.

Employed labour force
People who have paid work.

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.
Employed labour force
People who have paid work.

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 75 years old. Paid work is regardless of the hours worked.

Working hours
The number of hours someone works in a normal or average working week.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Part-time
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 35 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.
Less than 20 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 20 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Less than 20 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 20 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.


Less than 12 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is less than 20 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.
12 to 19 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 12 to 19 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

20 to 34 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 20 to 34 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

20 to 34 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 20 to 34 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

20 to 27 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 20 to 27 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

28 to 34 working hours a week
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 28 to 34 hours.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.
Full-time
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 35 hours or more.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

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 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.

Unemployment rate
The unemployed labour force as a percentage of the (employed and unemployed) 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.