Labour participation; key figures

Labour participation; key figures

Sex Age Highest educational level Periods Labour force and not in the labour force (x 1 000) Labour force Unemployed labour force (x 1 000)
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Total 2013 2nd quarter 12,631 747
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Total 2023 2nd quarter 13,310 348
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2013 2nd quarter 3,702 264
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2023 2nd quarter 3,500 121
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2013 2nd quarter 5,104 314
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2023 2nd quarter 4,924 117
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2013 2nd quarter 3,559 148
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2023 2nd quarter 4,812 107
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Unknown 2013 2nd quarter 265 20
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Unknown 2023 2nd quarter 74 2
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2013 2nd quarter 2,038 224
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2023 2nd quarter 2,167 148
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 1 Lower education 2013 2nd quarter 1,009 136
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 1 Lower education 2023 2nd quarter 937 86
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 2 Intermediate education 2013 2nd quarter 789 71
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 2 Intermediate education 2023 2nd quarter 950 49
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 3 Higher education 2013 2nd quarter 177 10
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 3 Higher education 2023 2nd quarter 278 14
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Unknown 2013 2nd quarter 64 6
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Unknown 2023 2nd quarter 2 0
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Total 2013 2nd quarter 4,309 265
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Total 2023 2nd quarter 4,478 111
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2013 2nd quarter 691 56
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2023 2nd quarter 585 18
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2013 2nd quarter 1,839 126
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2023 2nd quarter 1,539 36
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2013 2nd quarter 1,675 73
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2023 2nd quarter 2,326 56
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Unknown 2013 2nd quarter 104 10
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Unknown 2023 2nd quarter 28 1
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Total 2013 2nd quarter 6,283 258
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Total 2023 2nd quarter 6,666 88
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2013 2nd quarter 2,003 72
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2023 2nd quarter 1,977 18
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2013 2nd quarter 2,477 117
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2023 2nd quarter 2,436 32
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2013 2nd quarter 1,706 65
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2023 2nd quarter 2,208 37
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Unknown 2013 2nd quarter 97 4
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Unknown 2023 2nd quarter 44 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 years 2023 are 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 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 75 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.
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.