Labour participation; key figures

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Age Highest educational level Labour force Employed labour force Working hours Full-time (x 1 000)
15 to 74 years Total 5,084
Primary, lower secondary 786
Upper secondary 1,735
Tertiary 2,528
Unknown 35
15 to 24 years Total 388
Primary, lower secondary 92
Upper secondary 181
Tertiary 115
Unknown 0
15 to 64 years Total 4,967
Primary, lower secondary 753
Upper secondary 1,694
Tertiary 2,487
Unknown 33
25 to 44 years Total 2,453
Primary, lower secondary 247
Upper secondary 748
Tertiary 1,438
Unknown 20
25 to 34 years Total 1,335
Primary, lower secondary 99
Upper secondary 406
Tertiary 825
Unknown 5
35 to 44 years Total 1,118
Primary, lower secondary 148
Upper secondary 342
Tertiary 613
Unknown 15
45 to 54 years Total 1,114
Primary, lower secondary 177
Upper secondary 385
Tertiary 545
Unknown 8
45 to 64 years Total 2,125
Primary, lower secondary 414
Upper secondary 764
Tertiary 934
Unknown 13
45 to 74 years Total 2,242
Primary, lower secondary 447
Upper secondary 805
Tertiary 976
Unknown 15
55 to 64 years Total 1,012
Primary, lower secondary 237
Upper secondary 379
Tertiary 390
Unknown 6
65 to 74 years Total 117
Primary, lower secondary 33
Upper secondary 41
Tertiary 41
Unknown 2
15 to 19 years Total 69
Primary, lower secondary 40
Upper secondary 28
Tertiary 1
Unknown 0
20 to 24 years Total 320
Primary, lower secondary 52
Upper secondary 153
Tertiary 114
Unknown 0
25 to 29 years Total 677
Primary, lower secondary 47
Upper secondary 209
Tertiary 420
Unknown 1
30 to 34 years Total 658
Primary, lower secondary 53
Upper secondary 198
Tertiary 404
Unknown 3
35 to 39 years Total 583
Primary, lower secondary 68
Upper secondary 175
Tertiary 332
Unknown 8
40 to 44 years Total 535
Primary, lower secondary 81
Upper secondary 167
Tertiary 281
Unknown 7
45 to 49 years Total 536
Primary, lower secondary 75
Upper secondary 188
Tertiary 269
Unknown 4
50 to 54 years Total 578
Primary, lower secondary 102
Upper secondary 197
Tertiary 275
Unknown 4
55 to 59 years Total 602
Primary, lower secondary 125
Upper secondary 228
Tertiary 246
Unknown 3
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


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 October 30, 2025:
The figures for the 3rd quarter 2025 have been added.

Changes as of November 14, 2024:
The figures for 3rd quarter 2024 are added.
Figures have been added on labor participation based on whether or not the state pension age has been reached.

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 January 2026.

Description topics

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.
Working hours
The number of hours someone works in a normal or average working week.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.

Full-time
The number of hours that a person works in a normal or average working week is 35 hours or more.

In the average working hours overtime and unpaid hours are not taken into account.