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 Seeking work, but not available (x 1.000)
Total male and female Total persons Total 2023 13,326 9,737 528 9,209 3,589 359 3,230 108
Total male and female Total persons Registered at an employment office 2023 943 328 33 294 615 108 507 38
Total male and female Total persons Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 145 72 10 63 73 44 29 12
Total male and female Total persons Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 798 255 24 232 543 65 478 27
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 70
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2023 2,169 1,659 248 1,411 510 149 361 30
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at an employment office 2023 48 18 2 16 30 8 23 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
Total male and female Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 43 15 2 14 28 6 22 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 28
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2023 4,489 3,927 142 3,785 562 117 445 41
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 396 171 16 154 225 51 174 18
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 62 32 4 28 30 19 11 5
Total male and female Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 334 139 13 126 195 32 163 13
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 23
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2023 2,325 2,031 81 1,950 294 71 223 23
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at an employment office 2023 202 87 8 80 115 28 86 9
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 30 15 1 14 15 10 5 3
Total male and female Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 172 72 7 66 100 18 82 6
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 15
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2023 2,163 1,896 61 1,835 268 46 222 17
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 194 83 9 75 110 23 87 9
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 32 17 2 14 15 9 6 2
Total male and female Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 162 67 6 60 95 14 81 7
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 8
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Total 2023 6,667 4,151 138 4,013 2,516 92 2,424 37
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at an employment office 2023 499 139 15 124 360 49 311 18
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 78 38 6 32 40 23 17 6
Total male and female Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 421 101 9 92 320 26 293 12
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 19
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2023 2,295 1,976 72 1,904 320 36 284 13
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at an employment office 2023 201 68 7 61 133 19 114 6
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 32 19 3 16 14 8 6 2
Total male and female Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 169 49 4 46 119 10 109 4
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 6
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Total 2023 2,434 1,825 55 1,771 609 42 567 16
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Registered at an employment office 2023 244 64 7 57 180 27 153 10
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 38 18 3 15 20 13 7 3
Total male and female Age: 55 to 64 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 206 46 5 42 160 14 146 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 6
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Total 2023 1,938 350 12 338 1,588 14 1,574 8
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Registered at an employment office 2023 54 7 1 6 47 4 43 2
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 8 2 0 1 6 2 4 1
Total male and female Age: 65 to 74 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 46 6 1 5 41 2 39 1
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 6
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Total 2023 3,467 1,971 164 1,807 1,496 120 1,376 36
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Registered at an employment office 2023 384 106 10 96 277 29 249 12
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 33 17 2 14 17 7 9 3
Total male and female Level of educ: 1. Low Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 350 90 8 82 261 21 239 9
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 24
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Total 2023 4,935 3,720 213 3,507 1,215 124 1,091 37
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Registered at an employment office 2023 330 127 12 115 203 42 161 14
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 56 28 3 25 28 18 11 4
Total male and female Level of educ: 2 Intermediate Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 273 99 9 90 175 25 150 10
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 23
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Total 2023 4,848 4,007 149 3,859 841 113 728 34
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Registered at an employment office 2023 212 92 11 80 120 36 84 12
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 54 27 4 23 27 18 8 4
Total male and female Level of educ: 3 High Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 158 65 7 57 93 18 75 7
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 22
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Total 2023 76 39 2 37 37 2 36 1
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Registered at an employment office 2023 18 3 0 3 15 1 14 0
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 2 1 0 1 1 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 0
Total male and female Level of educ: unknown Not registered at an employment office 2023 58 35 2 34 22 0 22 1
Male Total persons Total 2023 6,662 5,145 206 4,939 1,517 180 1,338 47
Male Total persons Registered at an employment office 2023 450 175 16 159 275 58 217 18
Male Total persons Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 70 36 4 33 34 21 13 5
Male Total persons Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 379 138 12 126 241 37 204 13
Male Total persons Not registered at an employment office 2023 6,213 4,971 190 4,781 1,242 121 1,121 29
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Total 2023 1,102 846 121 725 256 76 179 15
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at an employment office 2023 20 9 1 7 11 4 7 1
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 18 8 1 7 10 3 7 1
Male Age: 15 to 24 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,082 837 119 717 245 72 172 14
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Total 2023 2,259 2,055 48 2,006 204 57 147 15
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 189 93 8 85 96 28 68 7
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 29 16 2 14 13 9 4 2
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 161 77 7 71 83 19 64 6
Male Age: 25 to 44 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 2,070 1,961 40 1,921 108 29 79 8
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Total 2023 1,177 1,061 34 1,027 115 37 79 9
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at an employment office 2023 96 49 4 44 47 15 32 3
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 13 7 1 7 6 4 1 1
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 82 41 4 38 41 11 31 2
Male Age: 25 to 34 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,081 1,012 30 983 68 22 47 6
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Total 2023 1,082 993 15 979 89 20 69 6
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at an employment office 2023 94 44 4 40 49 13 36 4
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 15 9 1 7 7 4 2 1
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 78 36 3 33 42 8 34 3
Male Age: 35 to 44 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 989 949 10 939 40 8 32 2
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Total 2023 3,302 2,245 36 2,209 1,057 46 1,011 17
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at an employment office 2023 240 72 6 66 168 26 142 10
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 40 20 2 18 20 11 9 3
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 201 53 4 49 148 15 133 6
Male Age: 45 to 74 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 3,061 2,172 30 2,142 889 20 869 7
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Total 2023 1,138 1,018 14 1,004 120 18 102 5
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at an employment office 2023 95 34 2 32 61 10 51 4
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, with WW benefit 2023 16 9 1 8 7 4 3 1
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Registered at UWV, no WW benefit 2023 79 25 2 24 54 6 48 2
Male Age: 45 to 54 years Not registered at an employment office 2023 1,043 984 12 972 59 7 52 1
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.
Seeking work, but not available
Person is not directly available for work, but has recently looked for work.