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 13,424 9,780 534 9,246 3,644 407 3,238 186 18 168 102 2,949 257 289 1,458 854 92
Registered at an employment office 990 332 39 293 657 126 532 34 3 31 36 462 38 37 26 333 28
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 181 81 12 69 100 61 38 8 0 8 7 24 3 1 5 12 4
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 809 251 27 224 558 65 493 26 3 24 29 438 35 36 21 322 25
Not registered at an employment office 12,435 9,448 495 8,953 2,987 281 2,706 152 15 137 66 2,487 219 252 1,432 520 64
Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2,177 1,636 264 1,372 541 164 377 64 1 63 32 281 4 229 0 33 15
Registered at an employment office 56 20 4 15 36 7 29 3 0 3 3 23 1 9 0 11 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 6 3 1 2 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 50 17 3 13 33 5 28 3 0 3 3 22 1 9 0 11 2
Not registered at an employment office 2,121 1,617 260 1,357 505 156 348 61 1 60 29 259 4 220 0 22 13
Age: 25 to 44 years Total 4,594 3,996 146 3,850 598 141 457 39 4 35 40 378 95 53 0 202 27
Registered at an employment office 418 171 21 150 247 61 186 16 2 14 19 152 21 24 0 96 11
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 82 38 6 32 44 29 15 4 0 4 3 8 1 0 0 4 2
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 336 133 15 118 203 32 171 11 2 10 15 144 20 24 0 91 9
Not registered at an employment office 4,176 3,825 125 3,700 351 79 271 23 3 21 22 226 75 28 0 106 16
Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2,371 2,068 77 1,991 303 86 217 20 1 19 23 174 39 38 0 82 15
Registered at an employment office 203 88 11 77 115 32 82 6 0 6 9 67 10 15 0 37 5
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 42 20 3 17 22 15 7 2 0 2 2 3 0 0 0 1 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 161 68 8 60 93 18 75 5 0 4 7 64 9 15 0 36 4
Not registered at an employment office 2,168 1,980 66 1,914 188 53 135 14 1 13 14 108 30 23 0 45 10
Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2,223 1,928 69 1,859 295 55 240 19 3 16 18 203 56 14 0 120 12
Registered at an employment office 216 83 10 73 133 29 104 9 1 8 9 85 11 9 0 59 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 41 18 3 15 23 14 9 3 0 3 1 5 1 0 0 3 2
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 175 65 7 58 110 15 96 7 1 5 8 80 10 9 0 56 5
Not registered at an employment office 2,008 1,846 59 1,786 162 26 136 10 2 8 8 118 45 5 0 62 6
Age: 45 to 74 years Total 6,653 4,148 125 4,024 2,505 102 2,403 83 12 70 30 2,290 158 8 1,457 619 49
Registered at an employment office 515 142 14 128 374 57 316 15 1 14 14 288 16 4 26 227 15
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 93 40 5 35 52 30 22 3 0 3 3 16 2 1 5 7 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 423 101 9 93 321 27 294 12 1 11 11 271 15 3 21 219 13
Not registered at an employment office 6,138 4,007 111 3,896 2,131 45 2,087 68 12 56 16 2,003 141 4 1,431 392 35
Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2,217 1,895 61 1,834 321 45 276 16 2 14 11 249 44 5 3 184 13
Registered at an employment office 204 68 5 64 136 25 111 5 0 5 6 100 9 3 0 83 5
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 40 22 2 20 17 12 6 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 0 4 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 164 46 3 43 118 13 105 5 0 5 5 95 9 2 0 79 5
Not registered at an employment office 2,013 1,827 57 1,770 186 20 165 11 2 9 5 149 35 2 3 101 8
Age: 55 to 64 years Total 2,468 1,867 52 1,815 600 44 557 25 5 20 14 517 75 3 98 317 25
Registered at an employment office 251 66 9 57 185 28 157 7 1 7 7 143 6 1 6 123 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 43 17 3 14 26 16 10 2 0 2 2 6 1 0 1 4 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 208 49 6 44 159 11 148 5 1 5 5 137 5 1 5 120 7
Not registered at an employment office 2,216 1,801 43 1,758 415 16 399 18 4 14 7 374 69 2 93 194 18
Age: 65 to 74 years Total 1,969 386 11 374 1,583 13 1,570 41 5 36 5 1,524 39 0 1,356 119 10
Registered at an employment office 60 7 1 7 53 5 48 2 0 2 1 45 2 0 20 21 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 10 1 0 1 9 2 7 1 0 1 0 6 1 0 4 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 50 6 0 6 44 3 41 1 0 1 1 39 1 0 16 20 2
Not registered at an employment office 1,909 378 11 368 1,531 9 1,522 39 5 34 3 1,480 38 0 1,336 98 8
1 Primary, lower secondary Total 3,447 1,965 171 1,794 1,481 127 1,355 71 8 63 37 1,247 101 145 574 381 45
Registered at an employment office 390 100 12 88 289 29 260 14 1 13 13 233 21 16 13 165 17
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 37 14 3 11 22 9 13 1 0 1 2 10 0 0 2 6 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 353 86 9 77 267 20 247 13 1 12 11 223 21 15 11 160 16
Not registered at an employment office 3,057 1,865 159 1,706 1,192 97 1,095 56 7 50 24 1,014 79 130 561 216 28
2 Upper secondary Total 4,867 3,639 207 3,432 1,228 141 1,086 59 5 54 36 991 82 99 473 310 27
Registered at an employment office 344 126 15 110 218 44 174 9 1 8 11 154 10 14 7 115 8
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 68 31 5 26 37 23 14 4 0 4 2 8 1 1 2 3 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 276 95 10 85 181 21 160 5 1 4 9 146 9 13 5 112 7
Not registered at an employment office 4,523 3,513 191 3,322 1,010 98 912 50 4 47 24 837 72 85 466 195 19
3 Tertiary Total 5,020 4,137 155 3,982 883 136 747 54 5 49 28 665 65 43 398 141 19
Registered at an employment office 238 103 12 92 134 52 82 9 1 8 10 62 5 7 5 43 3
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 75 35 4 31 40 29 11 3 0 3 2 6 1 0 1 2 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 163 69 8 61 95 23 71 6 0 6 8 57 4 7 4 41 2
Not registered at an employment office 4,782 4,033 143 3,890 749 84 665 45 5 40 17 603 60 37 393 98 16
Level of educ: unknown Total 91 39 1 38 52 2 49 2 0 2 1 46 10 1 13 21 1
Registered at an employment office 18 3 0 3 16 1 15 1 0 1 1 13 2 1 1 10 0
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 17 2 0 2 15 0 15 1 0 1 1 13 2 1 1 9 0
Not registered at an employment office 73 37 1 36 36 2 34 1 0 1 0 33 8 0 12 12 1
Male Total persons Total 6,715 5,157 217 4,940 1,558 206 1,352 95 9 86 53 1,204 30 140 660 331 43
Registered at an employment office 472 177 19 158 295 70 225 20 2 18 19 186 7 18 12 135 13
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 92 40 5 36 52 33 19 4 0 4 3 11 1 0 3 6 2
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 380 137 14 122 243 37 206 15 2 13 16 175 7 18 9 130 12
Not registered at an employment office 6,243 4,980 198 4,782 1,263 136 1,127 76 7 68 34 1,017 23 122 648 195 29
Age: 15 to 24 years Total 1,108 834 131 703 273 85 188 34 0 34 16 138 1 113 0 14 10
Registered at an employment office 30 11 3 8 19 3 16 2 0 2 2 11 0 5 0 5 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 28 10 2 8 18 3 16 2 0 2 2 11 0 5 0 5 1
Not registered at an employment office 1,078 824 129 695 254 82 172 32 0 31 14 127 1 108 0 9 9
Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2,315 2,099 52 2,047 217 67 150 15 2 13 20 115 6 24 0 73 12
Registered at an employment office 199 93 11 83 106 34 72 8 1 7 9 55 3 11 0 37 5
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 40 19 3 16 20 15 6 2 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 2 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 159 74 8 66 86 19 66 6 1 5 8 53 3 11 0 35 4
Not registered at an employment office 2,116 2,006 41 1,965 111 33 78 7 1 6 11 59 3 13 0 36 7
Age: 25 to 34 years Total 1,201 1,085 33 1,051 116 41 75 8 1 7 12 55 2 19 0 27 6
Registered at an employment office 99 51 6 44 48 17 31 3 0 3 5 23 1 7 0 13 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 20 10 1 9 9 7 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 79 40 5 35 39 10 29 2 0 2 4 23 1 7 0 12 2
Not registered at an employment office 1,102 1,034 27 1,007 67 23 44 5 1 4 7 32 1 12 0 14 4
Age: 35 to 44 years Total 1,115 1,014 18 996 101 26 75 7 1 6 8 60 4 4 0 46 5
Registered at an employment office 100 43 4 38 58 16 41 5 1 4 4 32 2 3 0 24 2
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 20 9 2 8 11 8 3 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 80 33 3 31 47 9 38 4 1 3 4 30 2 3 0 23 2
Not registered at an employment office 1,015 971 14 957 43 10 34 2 0 2 4 27 1 1 0 21 3
Age: 45 to 74 years Total 3,292 2,224 34 2,190 1,067 54 1,014 46 7 39 17 951 23 3 660 244 21
Registered at an employment office 243 73 6 68 170 33 137 10 1 9 8 119 4 3 12 93 7
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 51 20 1 19 30 18 13 2 0 2 2 9 0 0 3 4 1
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 192 53 4 49 139 15 124 7 1 6 6 111 4 2 9 89 7
Not registered at an employment office 3,049 2,151 28 2,122 898 21 877 37 6 31 9 831 20 1 647 150 14
Age: 45 to 54 years Total 1,097 979 14 965 118 19 99 7 0 7 7 84 6 2 1 69 6
Registered at an employment office 91 32 2 30 59 12 47 3 0 3 4 40 2 2 0 33 3
Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 20 11 0 10 9 6 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 0
Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 72 21 1 20 50 6 44 3 0 3 3 38 2 2 0 31 3
Not registered at an employment office 1,006 947 12 935 59 7 52 4 0 3 3 44 4 0 1 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 27, 2025:
The figures for the 1st quarter 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 August 2025.

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.