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 13,413 9,846 522 9,324 3,567 404 3,163 187 19 167 110 2,866 253 237 1,430 848 98
Registered at an employment office 995 330 35 295 664 131 534 35 6 29 38 461 38 38 27 329 28
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 188 84 11 72 105 67 37 6 0 6 13 18 1 2 4 9 2
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 806 246 24 223 560 63 497 28 5 23 26 443 37 36 23 321 27
Not registered at an employment office 12,418 9,515 486 9,029 2,903 274 2,629 152 14 139 72 2,406 215 200 1,403 518 70
Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2,154 1,654 257 1,397 500 165 335 68 2 66 32 235 4 182 0 34 15
Registered at an employment office 67 23 4 19 44 10 34 4 0 4 3 28 1 10 0 13 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 7 3 1 2 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 60 20 3 17 40 6 33 4 0 4 3 27 1 10 0 12 3
Not registered at an employment office 2,087 1,631 253 1,378 456 155 301 64 2 62 30 207 3 172 0 21 11
Age: 25 to 44 years Total 4,609 4,024 149 3,874 585 137 449 38 4 34 41 370 93 47 0 198 32
Registered at an employment office 412 168 18 150 244 66 178 15 1 14 17 146 21 22 0 93 10
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 88 40 5 35 48 33 15 3 0 3 6 5 1 1 0 4 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 325 128 13 115 197 33 164 12 1 11 11 140 20 21 0 89 10
Not registered at an employment office 4,196 3,855 131 3,725 341 71 270 23 2 20 24 224 72 25 0 106 22
Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2,372 2,080 78 2,002 292 80 212 22 2 20 22 167 33 34 0 79 22
Registered at an employment office 194 80 7 72 114 33 82 6 1 5 7 68 8 15 0 39 6
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 40 18 2 17 21 17 5 1 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 2 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 154 62 6 56 93 16 77 5 1 4 6 66 8 15 0 37 6
Not registered at an employment office 2,178 2,001 71 1,930 178 47 130 16 1 15 15 99 25 19 0 40 16
Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2,237 1,943 71 1,872 294 57 237 16 2 14 19 202 60 13 0 120 10
Registered at an employment office 219 88 11 78 130 33 97 10 1 9 10 77 13 7 0 54 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 48 22 4 19 26 16 10 3 0 3 4 3 0 0 0 2 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 170 66 7 59 104 17 87 7 1 6 5 75 12 7 0 52 4
Not registered at an employment office 2,018 1,855 60 1,795 163 23 140 6 1 5 9 125 47 6 0 66 6
Age: 45 to 74 years Total 6,650 4,168 115 4,053 2,482 103 2,379 81 14 67 37 2,262 157 8 1,430 616 52
Registered at an employment office 515 139 13 126 376 55 321 15 4 11 19 288 16 5 27 223 15
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 93 40 5 35 53 31 22 3 0 3 7 12 1 1 4 4 2
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 422 98 8 91 324 24 300 13 4 9 12 275 16 5 23 219 13
Not registered at an employment office 6,135 4,029 102 3,927 2,106 48 2,058 66 10 56 18 1,974 140 3 1,402 392 37
Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2,192 1,864 55 1,810 327 44 283 15 1 14 14 255 43 6 3 188 14
Registered at an employment office 204 65 7 58 140 25 115 6 1 5 8 101 9 5 0 82 6
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 40 21 3 18 20 14 6 0 0 0 3 3 0 1 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 164 44 4 41 120 10 109 5 1 4 5 99 8 4 0 81 5
Not registered at an employment office 1,987 1,799 48 1,751 188 19 168 9 0 9 6 153 35 1 3 106 9
Age: 55 to 64 years Total 2,476 1,881 49 1,831 595 46 549 26 6 19 14 509 72 2 101 309 26
Registered at an employment office 249 67 6 61 182 26 156 8 2 5 10 139 5 1 5 120 8
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 43 19 2 16 25 15 10 2 0 2 4 4 0 0 0 3 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 206 48 4 45 158 11 146 6 2 4 6 135 5 1 5 118 7
Not registered at an employment office 2,226 1,814 43 1,770 412 19 393 18 4 14 5 370 66 1 96 189 18
Age: 65 to 74 years Total 1,983 423 11 412 1,560 13 1,547 40 6 34 9 1,498 41 0 1,325 119 12
Registered at an employment office 61 7 0 7 54 4 50 2 1 1 1 47 2 0 22 21 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 10 1 0 1 8 2 6 1 0 1 1 5 0 0 4 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 52 6 0 5 46 2 44 1 1 1 1 42 2 0 18 21 1
Not registered at an employment office 1,922 416 11 405 1,506 9 1,497 38 5 33 7 1,451 39 0 1,304 98 10
1 Primary, lower secondary Total 3,312 1,910 147 1,763 1,403 120 1,283 67 5 62 32 1,183 96 109 553 381 45
Registered at an employment office 387 105 11 94 281 31 251 14 2 12 12 225 21 17 13 157 16
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 40 17 3 14 23 11 12 3 0 3 3 6 1 0 2 2 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 347 88 8 80 258 20 238 11 2 9 8 219 20 16 11 155 16
Not registered at an employment office 2,925 1,804 136 1,668 1,121 89 1,032 53 3 49 21 958 75 92 539 224 28
2 Upper secondary Total 4,855 3,642 200 3,442 1,213 139 1,073 63 7 56 40 970 90 84 467 300 29
Registered at an employment office 346 121 13 108 226 44 182 12 2 10 16 155 11 12 8 117 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 67 31 4 27 36 22 14 2 0 2 5 7 1 0 1 4 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 279 89 9 81 189 22 168 10 2 8 10 147 10 12 6 113 6
Not registered at an employment office 4,509 3,522 187 3,335 987 95 892 51 5 46 24 816 79 72 460 183 22
3 Tertiary Total 5,155 4,243 173 4,070 912 143 769 56 7 49 36 678 60 44 401 150 22
Registered at an employment office 246 102 11 91 144 55 88 9 2 7 11 69 4 9 6 46 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 80 35 4 31 45 34 10 1 0 1 4 4 0 1 1 2 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 166 67 7 59 99 21 78 7 2 5 6 65 4 8 5 44 4
Not registered at an employment office 4,909 4,141 161 3,980 768 88 681 47 5 42 25 608 56 35 396 104 18
Level of educ: unknown Total 91 51 2 49 40 2 38 1 0 1 2 35 7 0 9 16 2
Registered at an employment office 16 2 0 2 14 1 13 0 0 0 1 12 2 0 0 8 1
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 15 2 0 2 13 1 13 0 0 0 1 12 2 0 0 8 1
Not registered at an employment office 75 49 2 46 26 2 25 1 0 1 1 23 5 0 8 8 1
Male Total persons Total 6,707 5,186 203 4,983 1,521 206 1,315 109 8 100 49 1,157 25 124 635 327 46
Registered at an employment office 472 178 16 163 293 74 220 20 3 17 17 182 4 19 12 131 15
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 94 41 4 37 53 36 17 4 0 4 5 8 0 1 2 3 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 378 137 11 126 240 37 203 17 3 13 12 174 4 18 10 128 14
Not registered at an employment office 6,236 5,008 188 4,820 1,228 133 1,095 88 5 83 32 975 21 105 622 196 31
Age: 15 to 24 years Total 1,098 836 120 716 262 88 174 39 1 38 15 119 1 98 0 12 8
Registered at an employment office 32 12 2 10 20 4 15 3 0 3 1 11 0 6 0 4 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 3 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 29 11 2 10 18 3 15 3 0 3 1 11 0 6 0 4 2
Not registered at an employment office 1,066 824 119 706 242 84 158 36 1 36 14 108 1 92 0 8 7
Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2,321 2,109 48 2,061 212 66 146 19 2 17 15 112 5 24 0 66 17
Registered at an employment office 197 94 8 85 104 37 66 8 1 7 7 51 2 11 0 31 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 42 19 2 18 22 16 6 2 0 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 155 74 6 68 81 21 60 6 1 5 5 49 1 11 0 30 7
Not registered at an employment office 2,124 2,016 40 1,976 108 28 80 11 1 10 8 61 3 12 0 35 10
Age: 25 to 34 years Total 1,200 1,080 31 1,050 119 37 83 12 1 11 10 61 1 20 0 28 12
Registered at an employment office 94 45 3 41 50 16 34 3 1 2 3 27 1 9 0 14 4
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 16 7 0 7 8 6 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 79 37 3 34 41 10 32 3 1 2 2 27 0 9 0 13 4
Not registered at an employment office 1,105 1,036 27 1,008 69 20 49 9 0 8 6 34 0 11 0 14 8
Age: 35 to 44 years Total 1,121 1,029 17 1,011 93 29 64 7 1 6 5 51 4 4 0 39 5
Registered at an employment office 103 49 5 44 54 21 33 5 0 5 4 24 1 2 0 18 3
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 26 12 2 10 14 10 4 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 1 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 77 37 3 34 40 12 28 3 0 3 3 22 1 2 0 17 2
Not registered at an employment office 1,019 980 13 967 39 8 31 2 0 2 2 27 3 1 0 21 2
Age: 45 to 74 years Total 3,288 2,241 35 2,206 1,048 53 995 50 5 45 19 926 19 3 634 249 20
Registered at an employment office 243 73 5 67 170 32 138 9 2 8 9 119 3 2 12 96 6
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 50 21 2 18 29 19 11 2 0 2 3 5 0 0 2 2 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 193 52 3 49 141 13 127 7 2 6 6 114 2 2 10 94 6
Not registered at an employment office 3,046 2,168 30 2,138 878 21 857 41 4 37 9 807 17 1 622 153 14
Age: 45 to 54 years Total 1,084 964 13 951 120 22 99 8 1 7 6 85 4 3 2 71 5
Registered at an employment office 90 33 2 30 58 12 45 4 1 3 3 38 1 2 0 32 3
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 19 10 1 9 9 7 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 71 23 1 21 48 5 43 3 1 3 2 37 1 2 0 31 3
Not registered at an employment office 994 931 10 921 62 9 53 4 0 4 2 47 2 1 2 40 2
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 November 27, 2025:
The figures for the 3rd quarter of 2025 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 February 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.