Labour participation; attachment to the labour market

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Sex Personal characteristics Registered employment UWV Labour force and not in the labour force (x 1.000) Employed labour force Employed labour force (x 1.000) Employed labour force Want to work more hours, available (x 1.000) Employed labour force Doesn’t want more hours or not available (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Not employed labour force (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Unemployed labour force Unemployed labour force (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not in the labour force (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Available to work, but not seeking Available to work, but not seeking (x 1.000) 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 Available to work, but not seeking Because of other reason (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Seeking work, but not available (x 1.000) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Not seeking work, not available (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 family/household care (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 education (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) Not employed labour force Not in the labour force Not seeking work, not available Doesn’t want to or can’t work Because of illness/disability (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 other reason (x 1.000)
Total male and female Total persons Total 13,450 9,815 574 9,241 3,635 428 3,207 183 16 167 106 2,919 239 278 1,447 870 85
Registered at an employment office 1,028 339 36 303 689 151 538 29 4 25 38 471 41 41 24 341 23
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 198 82 11 71 116 81 35 7 1 6 10 18 3 1 5 8 2
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 830 257 25 232 573 70 503 22 3 19 28 453 39 40 20 333 21
Not registered at an employment office 12,423 9,476 538 8,938 2,946 277 2,669 154 11 142 68 2,447 198 236 1,422 529 62
Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2,169 1,627 277 1,350 542 167 374 65 2 63 35 274 3 219 0 40 11
Registered at an employment office 67 17 3 15 49 12 37 2 0 2 3 32 1 14 0 14 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 9 4 1 3 6 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 58 14 2 12 44 8 36 2 0 2 3 31 1 14 0 14 2
Not registered at an employment office 2,102 1,610 275 1,335 492 155 337 63 2 61 32 242 2 205 0 26 9
Age: 25 to 44 years Total 4,631 4,035 161 3,874 596 149 448 45 4 41 34 368 89 48 0 205 26
Registered at an employment office 431 178 20 158 253 74 179 13 2 12 18 149 23 19 0 96 9
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 88 37 5 32 51 38 13 3 0 3 4 6 2 1 0 3 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 344 141 14 127 203 36 166 10 2 9 14 143 22 19 0 94 8
Not registered at an employment office 4,200 3,857 141 3,715 343 75 268 32 2 29 17 220 66 28 0 108 17
Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2,378 2,089 88 2,001 289 83 207 29 2 27 19 158 32 35 0 79 12
Registered at an employment office 203 82 7 75 120 37 83 9 1 8 10 65 10 11 0 39 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 39 15 2 14 24 17 7 2 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 1 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 163 67 6 61 96 20 76 7 1 6 8 62 9 11 0 38 4
Not registered at an employment office 2,176 2,007 81 1,926 169 46 123 20 2 19 9 93 22 24 0 40 8
Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2,253 1,946 73 1,873 307 66 241 16 2 14 15 210 58 13 0 126 14
Registered at an employment office 229 96 12 84 133 37 96 4 1 3 8 84 13 8 0 57 5
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 48 22 3 18 27 21 6 1 0 1 2 4 1 0 0 2 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 180 74 9 65 106 16 90 4 1 3 6 80 12 8 0 56 5
Not registered at an employment office 2,024 1,850 61 1,789 174 29 145 11 1 10 8 126 44 4 0 69 9
Age: 45 to 74 years Total 6,651 4,153 136 4,018 2,498 112 2,385 73 10 63 36 2,277 147 11 1,446 625 47
Registered at an employment office 530 143 14 129 387 65 322 14 3 11 17 291 17 8 24 230 11
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 101 41 5 36 60 39 21 4 1 3 5 12 1 0 5 5 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 429 102 8 93 327 26 301 10 2 8 12 279 16 8 20 225 11
Not registered at an employment office 6,121 4,010 122 3,888 2,111 47 2,063 59 7 52 19 1,985 130 3 1,422 395 36
Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2,175 1,856 66 1,791 318 48 271 16 3 13 15 240 38 7 3 180 11
Registered at an employment office 211 68 6 63 143 28 115 7 1 6 6 102 8 6 0 85 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 43 21 2 20 22 17 5 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 168 47 4 43 121 11 110 6 1 5 5 100 7 6 0 83 4
Not registered at an employment office 1,963 1,788 60 1,728 175 20 155 9 2 7 9 137 30 1 3 95 8
Age: 55 to 64 years Total 2,480 1,873 52 1,821 608 50 557 20 4 17 15 522 66 3 103 325 26
Registered at an employment office 262 67 7 60 194 33 162 5 1 4 11 146 6 2 6 125 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 48 18 3 15 30 19 10 2 1 1 4 5 0 0 1 3 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 214 49 4 45 164 13 151 3 0 3 7 141 6 2 5 122 6
Not registered at an employment office 2,218 1,805 45 1,760 413 17 396 15 3 13 4 376 59 1 97 200 19
Age: 65 to 74 years Total 1,996 424 18 406 1,572 14 1,557 36 3 33 7 1,515 43 1 1,340 121 10
Registered at an employment office 57 8 1 7 49 4 45 2 0 1 1 43 3 0 18 21 1
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 10 2 1 1 8 2 6 1 0 1 1 4 0 0 4 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 47 6 0 5 41 2 39 1 0 1 0 38 2 0 15 20 1
Not registered at an employment office 1,940 417 17 400 1,523 10 1,512 34 3 31 6 1,472 40 1 1,322 100 9
1 Primary, lower secondary Total 3,339 1,869 167 1,702 1,471 141 1,330 73 4 69 31 1,226 94 145 558 391 38
Registered at an employment office 385 98 10 88 287 38 249 12 2 10 10 227 23 20 10 161 12
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 38 13 2 11 25 15 10 2 1 1 2 6 1 0 2 3 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 347 85 8 77 262 23 239 11 1 9 8 221 23 20 9 158 11
Not registered at an employment office 2,955 1,771 157 1,613 1,184 103 1,081 61 2 58 21 999 71 125 547 230 26
2 Upper secondary Total 4,797 3,575 215 3,360 1,222 142 1,080 54 5 49 42 984 86 88 468 315 27
Registered at an employment office 377 135 13 122 242 52 190 11 2 9 15 164 14 12 8 123 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 79 36 4 32 43 29 15 2 0 2 5 7 1 0 2 3 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 298 100 9 90 199 23 175 9 2 7 10 157 13 12 6 120 7
Not registered at an employment office 4,420 3,440 202 3,238 980 90 890 43 3 39 28 820 72 76 460 192 20
3 Tertiary Total 5,234 4,324 190 4,134 910 142 768 53 6 47 32 683 54 44 413 153 18
Registered at an employment office 252 102 12 90 150 60 90 5 1 5 13 72 3 9 5 51 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 79 33 5 28 46 36 10 3 0 2 3 4 1 1 1 2 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 173 69 7 62 103 24 80 3 0 3 10 67 3 8 5 49 3
Not registered at an employment office 4,982 4,222 178 4,044 760 83 678 47 5 42 19 612 51 35 408 102 15
Level of educ: unknown Total 80 47 2 46 33 3 29 3 0 3 0 26 5 1 7 11 2
Registered at an employment office 14 3 0 3 11 2 9 0 0 0 0 9 1 0 1 7 1
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 12 3 0 3 10 0 9 0 0 0 0 9 1 0 1 7 1
Not registered at an employment office 66 44 1 43 22 2 20 3 0 3 0 17 4 1 7 5 1
Male Total persons Total 6,725 5,173 239 4,934 1,552 220 1,332 101 9 92 48 1,182 22 142 640 343 34
Registered at an employment office 490 186 18 168 304 86 218 17 3 13 16 185 5 21 12 137 11
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 108 47 5 42 61 43 17 3 1 3 5 9 1 1 3 4 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 382 139 13 126 243 43 200 14 3 11 11 176 4 20 9 133 10
Not registered at an employment office 6,235 4,987 221 4,766 1,248 134 1,114 85 6 79 32 997 18 121 629 206 24
Age: 15 to 24 years Total 1,105 829 136 693 276 87 189 36 1 34 16 137 0 116 0 16 5
Registered at an employment office 31 9 1 8 22 7 16 2 0 2 1 13 0 7 0 5 1
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 5 3 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 27 7 1 6 20 5 15 2 0 2 1 13 0 7 0 5 1
Not registered at an employment office 1,074 820 135 686 253 80 173 34 1 33 15 125 0 109 0 11 4
Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2,332 2,118 58 2,060 213 72 141 22 3 19 15 105 5 22 0 67 11
Registered at an employment office 201 100 11 89 101 39 62 7 1 5 6 49 2 10 0 32 5
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 43 19 2 17 24 19 6 1 0 1 2 3 1 1 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 158 81 9 72 77 21 56 5 1 4 5 46 1 10 0 31 4
Not registered at an employment office 2,131 2,018 48 1,971 112 33 80 15 1 14 8 56 3 12 0 35 6
Age: 25 to 34 years Total 1,202 1,086 38 1,048 116 42 73 15 2 13 9 50 2 18 0 26 5
Registered at an employment office 97 46 4 42 51 20 31 5 1 4 4 22 1 7 0 12 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 19 8 1 7 12 9 3 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 78 39 3 35 39 12 28 4 1 3 3 21 1 7 0 12 2
Not registered at an employment office 1,105 1,040 34 1,006 65 22 43 10 1 9 5 27 1 11 0 14 3
Age: 35 to 44 years Total 1,130 1,032 20 1,012 98 30 68 7 1 6 6 55 3 5 0 41 6
Registered at an employment office 104 54 6 47 50 19 31 2 1 1 3 26 1 3 0 20 3
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 24 12 1 10 13 10 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 80 42 5 37 37 9 28 2 1 1 2 25 1 3 0 19 3
Not registered at an employment office 1,026 978 14 965 48 11 37 5 0 5 3 29 2 1 0 21 4
Age: 45 to 74 years Total 3,288 2,225 45 2,180 1,062 61 1,001 44 5 39 18 940 18 4 640 260 19
Registered at an employment office 258 77 7 71 181 40 140 8 2 7 9 123 3 4 12 100 5
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 60 26 3 23 34 23 11 2 1 1 3 6 0 0 3 3 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 197 51 3 48 146 17 129 6 1 5 6 117 3 3 9 98 5
Not registered at an employment office 3,030 2,148 38 2,110 882 21 861 36 3 32 9 817 15 1 628 160 14
Age: 45 to 54 years Total 1,075 958 19 938 117 24 94 8 1 7 5 80 3 3 2 68 4
Registered at an employment office 94 34 2 32 60 16 44 5 1 4 2 37 1 3 0 32 1
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 25 13 1 12 12 10 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 70 21 1 20 48 7 42 4 1 3 1 36 1 3 0 31 1
Not registered at an employment office 980 923 17 906 57 7 50 4 0 3 3 44 2 0 2 36 3
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


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.

Data available from: 2013

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

Changes as of May 21, 2026:
The figures for the 1st quarter of 2026 have been added.

Changes as of August 23, 2022:
None, this is a new table. This table has been compiled on the basis of the Labor Force Survey (LFS). Due to changes in the research design and the questionnaire of the LFS, the figures for 2021 are not automatically comparable with the figures up to and including 2020. The key figures in this table have therefore been made consistent with the (non-seasonally adjusted) figures in the table Arbeidsdeelname, kerncijfers seizoengecorrigeerd (see section 4), in which the outcomes for the period 2013-2020 have been recalculated to align with the outcomes from 2021. When further detailing the outcomes according to job and personal characteristics, there may nevertheless be differences from 2020 to 2021 as a result of the new method.

When will new figures be released?
New figures will be published in July 2026.

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 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.
Want to work more hours, available
Doesn’t want more hours or not available
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 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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
Available to work, but not seeking
Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work.
Because of discouragement
Because of other reason
Seeking work, but not available
Person is not directly available for work, but has recently looked for work.
Not seeking work, not available
Person is not directly available for work and also hasn’t recently looked for work.
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 family/household care
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 the care for family or household.
Because of education
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 education.
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.
Because of illness/disability
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 an illness or disability.
Because of other reason
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 another reason.