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 5,013
Primary, lower secondary 739
Upper secondary 1,693
Tertiary 2,549
Unknown 33
15 to 24 years Total 373
Primary, lower secondary 77
Upper secondary 189
Tertiary 107
Unknown 0
15 to 64 years Total 4,893
Primary, lower secondary 700
Upper secondary 1,655
Tertiary 2,509
Unknown 29
25 to 44 years Total 2,426
Primary, lower secondary 246
Upper secondary 725
Tertiary 1,439
Unknown 16
25 to 34 years Total 1,313
Primary, lower secondary 110
Upper secondary 383
Tertiary 814
Unknown 6
35 to 44 years Total 1,113
Primary, lower secondary 136
Upper secondary 342
Tertiary 624
Unknown 10
45 to 54 years Total 1,112
Primary, lower secondary 163
Upper secondary 381
Tertiary 562
Unknown 6
45 to 64 years Total 2,094
Primary, lower secondary 376
Upper secondary 741
Tertiary 964
Unknown 13
45 to 74 years Total 2,214
Primary, lower secondary 416
Upper secondary 779
Tertiary 1,004
Unknown 16
55 to 64 years Total 982
Primary, lower secondary 214
Upper secondary 360
Tertiary 401
Unknown 7
65 to 74 years Total 121
Primary, lower secondary 40
Upper secondary 38
Tertiary 40
Unknown 3
15 to 19 years Total 58
Primary, lower secondary 36
Upper secondary 21
Tertiary 1
Unknown 0
20 to 24 years Total 315
Primary, lower secondary 41
Upper secondary 167
Tertiary 106
Unknown 0
25 to 29 years Total 653
Primary, lower secondary 50
Upper secondary 191
Tertiary 408
Unknown 4
30 to 34 years Total 660
Primary, lower secondary 60
Upper secondary 193
Tertiary 406
Unknown 2
35 to 39 years Total 575
Primary, lower secondary 66
Upper secondary 173
Tertiary 329
Unknown 7
40 to 44 years Total 538
Primary, lower secondary 70
Upper secondary 169
Tertiary 295
Unknown 4
45 to 49 years Total 538
Primary, lower secondary 70
Upper secondary 176
Tertiary 288
Unknown 4
50 to 54 years Total 573
Primary, lower secondary 93
Upper secondary 205
Tertiary 274
Unknown 2
55 to 59 years Total 579
Primary, lower secondary 112
Upper secondary 214
Tertiary 248
Unknown 6
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 April 30, 2026:
The figures for the 1st quarter 2026 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 July 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.