Labour participation; young people

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Sex Age Formal Eduation Labour force and not in the labour force (x 1 000) Not in the labour force (x 1 000)
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2,169 362
In formal education 1,602 302
Not in formal education 567 59
15 to 19 years Total 1,008 211
In formal education 919 195
Not in formal education 89 16
20 to 24 years Total 1,161 151
In formal education 683 107
Not in formal education 478 44
15 years Total 196 63
In formal education 193 61
Not in formal education 4 2
16 years Total 198 43
In formal education 195 41
Not in formal education 3 1
17 years Total 198 37
In formal education 189 35
Not in formal education 9 2
18 years Total 203 33
In formal education 172 27
Not in formal education 31 5
19 years Total 213 36
In formal education 171 30
Not in formal education 42 6
20 years Total 223 33
In formal education 166 26
Not in formal education 57 8
21 years Total 230 32
In formal education 157 24
Not in formal education 73 8
22 years Total 234 31
In formal education 142 23
Not in formal education 93 9
23 years Total 234 28
In formal education 123 19
Not in formal education 111 9
24 years Total 239 26
In formal education 95 16
Not in formal education 145 10
Male 15 to 24 years Total 1,104 184
In formal education 806 157
Not in formal education 298 28
15 to 19 years Total 518 108
In formal education 467 100
Not in formal education 51 8
20 to 24 years Total 586 77
In formal education 339 57
Not in formal education 247 20
15 years Total 101 33
In formal education 98 32
Not in formal education 3 1
16 years Total 102 22
In formal education 101 22
Not in formal education 1 0
17 years Total 102 17
In formal education 97 16
Not in formal education 5 1
18 years Total 105 16
In formal education 87 14
Not in formal education 18 2
19 years Total 109 19
In formal education 85 16
Not in formal education 24 3
20 years Total 113 18
In formal education 80 14
Not in formal education 33 4
21 years Total 116 16
In formal education 75 12
Not in formal education 41 4
22 years Total 118 17
In formal education 71 13
Not in formal education 47 4
23 years Total 118 14
In formal education 63 10
Not in formal education 55 4
24 years Total 121 12
In formal education 50 8
Not in formal education 71 4
Female 15 to 24 years Total 1,065 177
In formal education 796 146
Not in formal education 269 32
15 to 19 years Total 490 103
In formal education 452 95
Not in formal education 38 8
20 to 24 years Total 575 74
In formal education 344 51
Not in formal education 231 23
15 years Total 95 30
In formal education 94 29
Not in formal education 1 0
16 years Total 96 20
In formal education 95 20
Not in formal education 2 1
17 years Total 96 20
In formal education 92 19
Not in formal education 4 1
18 years Total 98 17
In formal education 85 14
Not in formal education 13 3
19 years Total 104 17
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 February 12, 2026:
The figures for the 4th quarter 2025 and the annual figures of 2025 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 May 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.
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.