Labour participation; young people

Labour participation; young people

Sex Age Formal Eduation Periods Labour force and not in the labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Employed labour force Employed labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Unemployed labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Unemployment rate (%) Not in the labour force (x 1 000) Net labour participation rate (%)
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2025 1st quarter 2,177 1,800 1,636 164 9.1 377 75.2
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2026 1st quarter 2,169 1,794 1,627 167 9.3 374 75.0
Total male and female 15 to 19 years Total 2025 1st quarter 1,010 787 696 91 11.6 223 68.9
Total male and female 15 to 19 years Total 2026 1st quarter 1,014 788 700 88 11.1 226 69.0
Total male and female 20 to 24 years Total 2025 1st quarter 1,167 1,013 941 73 7.2 154 80.6
Total male and female 20 to 24 years Total 2026 1st quarter 1,155 1,007 927 80 7.9 148 80.3
Male 15 to 24 years Total 2025 1st quarter 1,108 919 834 85 9.3 188 75.3
Male 15 to 24 years Total 2026 1st quarter 1,105 917 829 87 9.5 189 75.0
Male 15 to 19 years Total 2025 1st quarter 519 408 359 49 12.1 111 69.1
Male 15 to 19 years Total 2026 1st quarter 521 407 361 46 11.4 114 69.3
Male 20 to 24 years Total 2025 1st quarter 589 512 476 36 7.0 77 80.7
Male 20 to 24 years Total 2026 1st quarter 584 509 468 41 8.0 75 80.2
Female 15 to 24 years Total 2025 1st quarter 1,069 880 802 78 8.9 189 75.0
Female 15 to 24 years Total 2026 1st quarter 1,063 878 798 80 9.1 185 75.0
Female 15 to 19 years Total 2025 1st quarter 491 379 337 42 11.1 112 68.6
Female 15 to 19 years Total 2026 1st quarter 493 380 339 41 10.9 112 68.8
Female 20 to 24 years Total 2025 1st quarter 578 502 465 37 7.3 77 80.4
Female 20 to 24 years Total 2026 1st quarter 570 498 459 39 7.8 73 80.4
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains quarterly and yearly figures on labour participation of young people in the Netherlands. The population of 15 to 24 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 whether they are in 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 2026 have been added.

Changes as of August 17, 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 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.
Labour force
People
- who have paid work (employed labour force), or
- who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it (unemployed 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.
Labour force
People
- who have paid work (employed labour force), or
- who don’t have paid work, recently looked for work and are directly available for it (unemployed 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.
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.
Unemployment rate
The unemployed labour force as a percentage of the (employed and unemployed) 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.
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.
Net labour participation rate
The percentage of the employed labour force in the population (labour force and 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.