Labour participation; key figures

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Labour participation; key figures
Sex Age Highest educational level 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) Gross labour participation rate (%) Net labour participation rate (%)
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Total 2024 1st quarter 13,375 10,153 9,767 386 3.8 3,222 75.9 73.0
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 3,505 2,135 2,005 130 6.1 1,370 60.9 57.2
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 4,918 3,827 3,697 131 3.4 1,091 77.8 75.2
Total male and female 15 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 4,875 4,148 4,024 124 3.0 727 85.1 82.5
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 77 43 41 2 4.7 34 56.0 53.3
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Total 2024 1st quarter 2,179 1,797 1,640 157 8.8 382 82.5 75.3
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 962 744 660 84 11.3 219 77.3 68.6
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 924 799 746 53 6.6 125 86.5 80.7
Total male and female 15 to 24 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 289 253 232 20 8.1 37 87.3 80.2
Total male and female 15 to 24 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 3 2 2 0 . 1 . .
Total male and female 15 to 64 years Total 2024 1st quarter 11,429 9,756 9,385 371 3.8 1,672 85.4 82.1
Total male and female 15 to 64 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 2,749 2,012 1,885 127 6.3 737 73.2 68.6
Total male and female 15 to 64 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 4,284 3,705 3,579 125 3.4 579 86.5 83.5
Total male and female 15 to 64 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 4,334 3,999 3,882 117 2.9 335 92.3 89.6
Total male and female 15 to 64 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 62 41 39 2 5.0 21 66.0 62.7
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Total 2024 1st quarter 4,536 4,085 3,954 131 3.2 451 90.1 87.2
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 596 442 418 24 5.4 155 74.0 70.0
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 1,570 1,408 1,366 42 3.0 162 89.7 87.0
Total male and female 25 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 2,345 2,219 2,155 64 2.9 126 94.6 91.9
Total male and female 25 to 44 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 25 17 16 1 . 8 . .
Total male and female 25 to 34 years Total 2024 1st quarter 2,349 2,130 2,050 79 3.7 219 90.7 87.3
Total male and female 25 to 34 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 253 186 173 13 6.8 67 73.4 68.4
Total male and female 25 to 34 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 825 741 716 26 3.5 83 89.9 86.8
Total male and female 25 to 34 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 1,261 1,195 1,155 40 3.4 66 94.8 91.6
Total male and female 25 to 34 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 10 7 7 1 . 2 . .
Total male and female 35 to 44 years Total 2024 1st quarter 2,187 1,956 1,904 52 2.7 231 89.4 87.0
Total male and female 35 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 343 256 244 11 4.4 87 74.5 71.3
Total male and female 35 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 746 667 650 17 2.5 79 89.4 87.2
Total male and female 35 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 1,084 1,024 1,000 24 2.3 60 94.5 92.3
Total male and female 35 to 44 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 15 10 9 0 . 5 . .
Total male and female 45 to 54 years Total 2024 1st quarter 2,269 1,989 1,951 38 1.9 280 87.6 86.0
Total male and female 45 to 54 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 460 340 332 8 2.2 120 73.8 72.2
Total male and female 45 to 54 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 845 754 741 12 1.7 92 89.1 87.7
Total male and female 45 to 54 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 944 882 865 17 1.9 63 93.3 91.6
Total male and female 45 to 54 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 19 14 13 1 . 5 . .
Total male and female 45 to 64 years Total 2024 1st quarter 4,714 3,874 3,791 83 2.1 840 82.2 80.4
Total male and female 45 to 64 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 1,190 826 807 19 2.3 363 69.5 67.9
Total male and female 45 to 64 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 1,790 1,498 1,468 30 2.0 292 83.7 82.0
Total male and female 45 to 64 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 1,700 1,527 1,495 33 2.1 173 89.8 87.9
Total male and female 45 to 64 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 34 22 21 1 . 12 64.8 61.7
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Total 2024 1st quarter 6,661 4,271 4,173 98 2.3 2,390 64.1 62.7
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 1,946 950 928 22 2.3 997 48.8 47.7
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 2,424 1,621 1,585 36 2.2 803 66.9 65.4
Total male and female 45 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 2,241 1,676 1,637 40 2.4 565 74.8 73.0
Total male and female 45 to 74 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 50 25 24 1 . 25 49.6 47.4
Total male and female 55 to 64 years Total 2024 1st quarter 2,445 1,885 1,840 45 2.4 560 77.1 75.3
Total male and female 55 to 64 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 729 487 475 11 2.3 243 66.7 65.2
Total male and female 55 to 64 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 945 745 727 18 2.4 200 78.8 76.9
Total male and female 55 to 64 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 756 646 630 16 2.4 110 85.5 83.4
Total male and female 55 to 64 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 15 8 8 0 . 7 . .
Total male and female 65 to 74 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,947 397 382 15 3.8 1,550 20.4 19.6
Total male and female 65 to 74 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 757 123 120 3 2.4 634 16.3 15.9
Total male and female 65 to 74 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 634 122 117 5 4.4 511 19.3 18.5
Total male and female 65 to 74 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 541 149 142 7 4.6 392 27.5 26.3
Total male and female 65 to 74 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 15 2 2 0 . 13 . .
Total male and female 15 to 19 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,010 790 703 86 10.9 220 78.2 69.7
Total male and female 15 to 19 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 778 592 525 67 11.3 186 76.1 67.5
Total male and female 15 to 19 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 225 192 174 18 9.5 33 85.4 77.3
Total male and female 15 to 19 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 7 5 4 1 . 1 . .
Total male and female 15 to 19 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 0 0 0 0 . 0 . .
Total male and female 20 to 24 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,169 1,007 936 71 7.1 162 86.2 80.1
Total male and female 20 to 24 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 184 152 135 17 11.2 33 82.3 73.1
Total male and female 20 to 24 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 699 607 572 35 5.7 92 86.8 81.8
Total male and female 20 to 24 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 283 247 228 19 7.8 36 87.4 80.6
Total male and female 20 to 24 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 3 1 1 0 . 1 . .
Total male and female 25 to 29 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,158 1,044 1,000 44 4.2 114 90.2 86.4
Total male and female 25 to 29 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 110 78 72 6 7.9 32 70.9 65.3
Total male and female 25 to 29 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 417 372 357 15 4.1 44 89.3 85.6
Total male and female 25 to 29 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 628 591 569 22 3.8 37 94.1 90.6
Total male and female 25 to 29 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 3 3 3 0 . 0 . .
Total male and female 30 to 34 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,191 1,086 1,050 35 3.2 106 91.1 88.2
Total male and female 30 to 34 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 144 108 102 7 6.0 36 75.3 70.7
Total male and female 30 to 34 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 408 369 359 10 2.8 39 90.4 87.9
Total male and female 30 to 34 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 633 604 586 18 3.0 29 95.4 92.6
Total male and female 30 to 34 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 6 5 4 1 . 2 . .
Total male and female 35 to 39 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,124 1,012 986 26 2.6 113 90.0 87.7
Total male and female 35 to 39 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 162 120 115 5 3.9 42 74.2 71.3
Total male and female 35 to 39 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 379 339 331 8 2.3 40 89.4 87.4
Total male and female 35 to 39 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 576 548 535 13 2.4 28 95.1 92.8
Total male and female 35 to 39 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 7 5 4 0 . 2 . .
Total male and female 40 to 44 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,063 944 918 26 2.8 119 88.8 86.4
Total male and female 40 to 44 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 181 136 129 7 4.8 46 74.8 71.2
Total male and female 40 to 44 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 367 328 319 9 2.7 39 89.4 87.0
Total male and female 40 to 44 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 507 476 465 11 2.2 31 93.8 91.7
Total male and female 40 to 44 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 8 5 5 0 . 3 . .
Total male and female 45 to 49 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,041 922 904 18 2.0 119 88.6 86.8
Total male and female 45 to 49 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 194 144 139 5 3.5 50 74.3 71.7
Total male and female 45 to 49 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 374 337 331 6 1.7 37 90.0 88.5
Total male and female 45 to 49 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 463 434 427 7 1.7 29 93.7 92.1
Total male and female 45 to 49 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 10 7 7 0 . 3 . .
Total male and female 50 to 54 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,228 1,067 1,047 20 1.9 161 86.9 85.3
Total male and female 50 to 54 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 266 195 193 2 1.3 71 73.4 72.5
Total male and female 50 to 54 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 471 417 410 7 1.6 55 88.4 87.0
Total male and female 50 to 54 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 481 448 438 10 2.1 34 93.0 91.0
Total male and female 50 to 54 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 10 7 6 1 . 2 . .
Total male and female 55 to 59 years Total 2024 1st quarter 1,254 1,046 1,026 20 2.0 207 83.5 81.8
Total male and female 55 to 59 years 1 Lower education 2024 1st quarter 340 243 238 5 2.1 97 71.4 69.9
Total male and female 55 to 59 years 2 Intermediate education 2024 1st quarter 496 425 416 9 2.1 71 85.8 84.0
Total male and female 55 to 59 years 3 Higher education 2024 1st quarter 410 374 368 7 1.7 36 91.2 89.6
Total male and female 55 to 59 years Unknown 2024 1st quarter 7 4 4 0 . 3 . .
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 May 15, 2024:
The figures for 1st quarter 2024 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 August 12, 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.
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.

Gross labour participation rate
The percentage of the (employed and unemployed) 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.
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.