Labour participation; attachment to the labour market

Labour participation; attachment to the labour market

Sex Personal characteristics Registered employment UWV Periods 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 2023 13,326 9,737 528 9,209 3,589 359 3,230 188 24 164 108 2,934 263 303 1,471 807 90
Total male and female Total persons Registered at an employment office 2023 943 328 33 294 615 108 507 27 4 23 38 442 42 37 24 311 28
Total male and female Total persons Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 145 72 10 63 73 44 29 4 0 4 12 13 1 1 3 6 2
Total male and female Total persons Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 798 255 24 232 543 65 478 23 3 20 27 428 41 36 21 305 26
Total male and female Total persons Not registered at an employment office 2023 12,383 9,409 494 8,915 2,973 250 2,723 162 20 141 70 2,492 221 266 1,447 495 62
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2023 2,169 1,659 248 1,411 510 149 361 63 2 61 30 268 5 225 0 26 12
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at an employment office 2023 48 18 2 16 30 8 23 2 0 2 2 18 2 7 0 8 2
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 5 3 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 43 15 2 14 28 6 22 2 0 2 2 18 1 7 0 8 2
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 2,121 1,641 245 1,396 480 141 339 61 2 59 28 249 3 218 0 18 10
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2023 4,489 3,927 142 3,785 562 117 445 36 3 33 41 368 97 66 0 178 28
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 396 171 16 154 225 51 174 12 1 11 18 144 24 23 0 86 11
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 62 32 4 28 30 19 11 1 0 1 5 4 1 1 0 2 1
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 334 139 13 126 195 32 163 10 1 10 13 140 23 22 0 84 10
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 4,093 3,756 125 3,631 337 66 271 24 2 22 23 223 73 43 0 91 17
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2023 2,325 2,031 81 1,950 294 71 223 19 2 17 23 181 40 50 0 74 16
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at an employment office 2023 202 87 8 80 115 28 86 6 1 5 9 72 12 14 0 41 6
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 30 15 1 14 15 10 5 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 1 0
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 172 72 7 66 100 18 82 5 0 5 6 71 12 13 0 40 5
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 2,123 1,944 73 1,870 180 43 137 13 1 12 15 109 29 37 0 34 10
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2023 2,163 1,896 61 1,835 268 46 222 17 1 16 17 187 56 15 0 103 12
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 194 83 9 75 110 23 87 6 0 6 9 72 12 9 0 46 5
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 32 17 2 14 15 9 6 1 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 1
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 162 67 6 60 95 14 81 5 0 5 7 69 12 9 0 44 5
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,970 1,812 52 1,761 158 23 134 11 1 10 8 115 44 6 0 58 7
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Total 2023 6,667 4,151 138 4,013 2,516 92 2,424 89 18 70 37 2,298 162 12 1,470 603 51
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at an employment office 2023 499 139 15 124 360 49 311 13 3 10 18 279 17 7 24 217 15
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 78 38 6 32 40 23 17 2 0 2 6 9 0 0 3 4 1
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 421 101 9 92 320 26 293 11 3 8 12 270 16 6 21 213 14
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 6,168 4,012 124 3,888 2,156 43 2,114 76 16 60 19 2,019 145 5 1,447 386 36
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2023 2,295 1,976 72 1,904 320 36 284 16 3 13 13 255 46 8 3 184 14
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at an employment office 2023 201 68 7 61 133 19 114 5 1 4 6 103 9 5 1 83 5
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 32 19 3 16 14 8 6 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 169 49 4 46 119 10 109 4 1 3 4 101 8 5 1 81 5
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 2,094 1,908 66 1,842 187 17 169 11 2 9 6 153 38 3 2 101 8
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Total 2023 2,434 1,825 55 1,771 609 42 567 23 5 18 16 528 80 3 112 310 24
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Registered at an employment office 2023 244 64 7 57 180 27 153 6 1 4 10 137 7 1 7 115 7
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 38 18 3 15 20 13 7 1 0 1 3 3 0 0 1 2 1
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 206 46 5 42 160 14 146 5 1 3 7 134 7 1 6 113 7
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 2,191 1,761 47 1,714 429 16 413 17 4 14 6 390 73 2 104 195 16
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Total 2023 1,938 350 12 338 1,588 14 1,574 50 11 39 8 1,516 36 1 1,356 109 13
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Registered at an employment office 2023 54 7 1 6 47 4 43 2 1 1 2 39 1 0 16 20 2
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 8 2 0 1 6 2 4 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 1 0
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 46 6 1 5 41 2 39 2 1 1 1 36 1 0 13 19 2
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,883 343 11 332 1,540 10 1,531 48 10 38 6 1,477 35 1 1,340 90 11
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Total 2023 3,467 1,971 164 1,807 1,496 120 1,376 69 5 64 36 1,271 107 137 613 374 39
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Registered at an employment office 2023 384 106 10 96 277 29 249 11 1 10 12 226 25 17 12 157 15
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 33 17 2 14 17 7 9 1 0 1 3 5 0 0 1 2 1
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 350 90 8 82 261 21 239 10 1 9 9 221 24 17 10 155 15
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Not registered at an employment office 2023 3,083 1,865 154 1,710 1,218 91 1,127 58 4 54 24 1,045 82 121 601 217 24
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Total 2023 4,935 3,720 213 3,507 1,215 124 1,091 66 7 59 37 988 88 109 481 283 27
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Registered at an employment office 2023 330 127 12 115 203 42 161 10 2 8 14 136 9 11 6 102 8
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 56 28 3 25 28 18 11 1 0 1 4 6 0 1 1 3 1
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 273 99 9 90 175 25 150 9 2 7 10 131 9 10 5 100 7
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Not registered at an employment office 2023 4,605 3,593 201 3,392 1,012 82 930 56 5 51 23 851 79 98 475 180 19
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Total 2023 4,848 4,007 149 3,859 841 113 728 51 11 40 34 642 62 56 369 134 22
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Registered at an employment office 2023 212 92 11 80 120 36 84 5 1 4 12 67 6 8 6 43 4
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 54 27 4 23 27 18 8 1 0 1 4 3 0 0 1 1 1
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 158 65 7 57 93 18 75 4 1 3 7 64 6 8 5 42 3
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Not registered at an employment office 2023 4,636 3,916 137 3,778 721 77 644 46 11 36 22 576 55 47 364 91 18
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Total 2023 76 39 2 37 37 2 36 2 0 2 1 33 6 1 7 16 2
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Registered at an employment office 2023 18 3 0 3 15 1 14 1 0 1 0 12 2 0 0 9 1
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 17 3 0 2 14 1 13 1 0 1 0 12 2 0 0 9 1
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Not registered at an employment office 2023 58 35 2 34 22 0 22 1 0 1 1 20 4 1 7 7 1
Male Total persons Total 2023 6,662 5,145 206 4,939 1,517 180 1,338 101 14 87 47 1,190 22 154 647 329 38
Male Total persons Registered at an employment office 2023 450 175 16 159 275 58 217 15 2 13 18 184 6 16 11 137 13
Male Total persons Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 70 36 4 33 34 21 13 2 0 2 5 6 0 0 2 3 1
Male Total persons Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 379 138 12 126 241 37 204 14 2 12 13 178 6 16 9 134 12
Male Total persons Not registered at an employment office 2023 6,213 4,971 190 4,781 1,242 121 1,121 86 12 74 29 1,006 16 137 635 192 25
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2023 1,102 846 121 725 256 76 179 32 1 31 15 132 0 118 0 8 6
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at an employment office 2023 20 9 1 7 11 4 7 1 0 1 1 5 0 2 0 2 1
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 18 8 1 7 10 3 7 1 0 1 1 5 0 2 0 2 1
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,082 837 119 717 245 72 172 31 1 30 14 127 0 116 0 6 5
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2023 2,259 2,055 48 2,006 204 57 147 17 2 15 15 115 4 31 0 67 13
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 189 93 8 85 96 28 68 7 0 6 7 54 2 11 0 35 6
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 29 16 2 14 13 9 4 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 0
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 161 77 7 71 83 19 64 6 0 6 6 52 2 11 0 34 5
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 2,070 1,961 40 1,921 108 29 79 10 1 9 8 61 2 20 0 32 7
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2023 1,177 1,061 34 1,027 115 37 79 9 1 8 9 60 1 25 0 28 6
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at an employment office 2023 96 49 4 44 47 15 32 4 0 3 3 25 1 6 0 16 2
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 13 7 1 7 6 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 82 41 4 38 41 11 31 3 0 3 2 25 1 6 0 15 2
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,081 1,012 30 983 68 22 47 6 1 5 6 35 0 19 0 12 4
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2023 1,082 993 15 979 89 20 69 8 1 7 6 55 3 6 0 39 6
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 94 44 4 40 49 13 36 3 0 3 4 29 1 5 0 19 3
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 15 9 1 7 7 4 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 78 36 3 33 42 8 34 3 0 3 3 28 1 5 0 19 3
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 989 949 10 939 40 8 32 5 0 4 2 26 2 1 0 20 3
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Total 2023 3,302 2,245 36 2,209 1,057 46 1,011 52 11 41 17 942 18 4 646 254 20
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at an employment office 2023 240 72 6 66 168 26 142 7 2 6 10 125 4 3 11 100 7
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 40 20 2 18 20 11 9 1 0 1 3 4 0 0 2 2 1
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 201 53 4 49 148 15 133 6 2 5 6 120 4 3 9 98 6
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 3,061 2,172 30 2,142 889 20 869 44 9 35 7 818 14 1 635 154 13
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2023 1,138 1,018 14 1,004 120 18 102 7 2 5 5 90 4 3 1 75 6
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at an employment office 2023 95 34 2 32 61 10 51 3 0 3 4 44 2 2 0 37 3
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 16 9 1 8 7 4 3 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 79 25 2 24 54 6 48 2 0 2 2 43 2 2 0 36 3
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,043 984 12 972 59 7 52 4 1 3 1 46 2 1 1 39 4
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


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 February 14, 2024:
The figures for 4th quarter and the year 2023 are 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 on May 15, 2024.

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
This group consists of people who work part-time (less than 35 hours a week) in their first job and want to work more hours within six months, assuming that their earnings also change. They are immediately available for this. The comparable term used by Eurostat is underemployed.

Up to and including 2012 it was assumed that people who work 12 hours or more a week and want to work more hours, cannot start within two weeks. This group was therefore not asked if they could start within two weeks. The questionnaire has now been adjusted so that the respondent will receive this question. The number of people that can start within two weeks is therefore greater than before and the remaining part of the employed labour force that does not want to work more hours or is not available, is therefore (equally) lower.

Doesn’t want more hours or not available
This group consists of people:
- who work full-time (35 hours or more a week) in their first job;
- who work part-time (less than 35 hours a week) in their first job and do not want to work more hours within six months (assuming that their earnings also change);
- who work part-time (less than 35 hours a week) in their first job, want to work more hours within six months, but are not immediately available for this;

Up to and including 2012 it was assumed that people who work 12 hours or more a week and want to work more hours, cannot start within two weeks. This group was therefore not asked if they could start within two weeks. The questionnaire has now been adjusted so that the respondent will receive this question. The number of people that can start within two weeks is therefore greater than before and the remaining part of the employed labour force that does not want to work more hours or is not available, is therefore (equally) lower.
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
Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work because they expect little result.

Up to and including 2014, it was assumed that for people who do not want to work for 12 hours or more a week and who report a certain reason for this, the same reason applies if they wanted to work less than 12 hours a week but did not look for work. The questionnaire has now been adapted so that the respondent can also report another reason not to look for work for less than 12 hours a week. The group that reports discouragement as the reason for not looking for work, therefore, appears to be larger in size than before and the remaining group that has not looked for work for other reasons is therefore (equally) lower.
Because of other reason
Person is directly available for work, but hasn’t recently looked for work because of other reason than expecting little result.

Up to and including 2014, it was assumed that for people who do not want to work for 12 hours or more a week and who report a certain reason for this, the same reason applies if they wanted to work less than 12 hours a week but did not look for work. The questionnaire has now been adapted so that the respondent can also report another reason not to look for work for less than 12 hours a week. The group that reports discouragement as the reason for not looking for work, therefore, appears to be larger in size than before and the remaining group that has not looked for work for other reasons is therefore (equally) lower.
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.