Labour participation; key figures

Changed on: 30/04/2026 06:30

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	2026 1st quarter	13,450	10,243	9,815	428	4.2	3,207	76.2	73.0
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	3,339	2,010	1,869	141	7.0	1,330	60.2	56.0
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	4,797	3,717	3,575	142	3.8	1,080	77.5	74.5
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	5,234	4,466	4,324	142	3.2	768	85.3	82.6
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	80	51	47	3	6.5	29	63.2	59.1
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	2,169	1,794	1,627	167	9.3	374	82.7	75.0
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	935	709	623	86	12.2	226	75.8	66.6
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	912	796	738	58	7.2	116	87.3	81.0
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	320	288	265	23	8.1	32	90.0	82.7
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	2	1	1	0	.	1	.	.
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	11,454	9,805	9,391	414	4.2	1,650	85.6	82.0
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	2,584	1,871	1,736	136	7.2	713	72.4	67.2
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	4,145	3,571	3,432	139	3.9	573	86.2	82.8
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	4,657	4,316	4,180	136	3.2	341	92.7	89.8
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	68	46	43	3	7.1	22	67.7	62.8
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	4,631	4,183	4,035	149	3.6	448	90.3	87.1
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	583	435	408	28	6.4	147	74.7	69.9
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	1,501	1,329	1,281	48	3.6	173	88.5	85.3
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	2,516	2,396	2,324	72	3.0	120	95.2	92.4
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	31	23	21	2	.	7	75.9	69.9
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	2,378	2,172	2,089	83	3.8	207	91.3	87.8
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	254	190	177	13	7.0	64	74.9	69.6
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	785	701	673	28	4.0	84	89.3	85.7
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	1,328	1,272	1,231	41	3.2	56	95.8	92.7
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	12	9	8	1	.	3	.	.
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	2,253	2,011	1,946	66	3.3	241	89.3	86.4
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	329	245	231	14	5.9	84	74.5	70.2
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	716	628	608	20	3.1	88	87.6	84.9
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	1,188	1,124	1,093	31	2.7	65	94.6	92.0
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	19	15	14	1	.	4	.	.
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	2,175	1,904	1,856	48	2.5	271	87.6	85.4
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	389	278	268	9	3.4	112	71.3	68.9
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	786	690	673	17	2.5	96	87.8	85.6
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	986	927	906	21	2.2	59	94.0	91.9
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	13	10	9	1	.	3	.	.
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	4,655	3,827	3,729	98	2.6	828	82.2	80.1
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	1,067	727	706	21	2.9	340	68.1	66.1
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	1,732	1,447	1,413	34	2.3	285	83.5	81.6
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	1,821	1,632	1,590	41	2.5	189	89.6	87.4
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	36	22	20	1	.	14	60.5	56.5
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	6,651	4,266	4,153	112	2.6	2,385	64.1	62.4
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	1,822	865	839	27	3.1	956	47.5	46.0
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	2,384	1,592	1,556	37	2.3	792	66.8	65.2
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	2,397	1,782	1,734	47	2.7	615	74.3	72.3
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	47	26	25	1	.	21	54.8	51.7
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	2,480	1,923	1,873	50	2.6	557	77.5	75.5
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	677	449	437	12	2.7	228	66.3	64.6
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	946	757	740	17	2.3	189	80.0	78.2
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	834	705	684	20	2.9	130	84.5	82.0
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	22	12	11	1	.	11	.	.
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,996	439	424	14	3.3	1,557	22.0	21.3
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	755	139	133	6	4.0	617	18.4	17.6
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	652	146	143	3	1.8	507	22.3	21.9
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	577	150	144	6	4.2	427	26.0	25.0
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	12	4	4	0	.	7	.	.
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,014	788	700	88	11.1	226	77.7	69.0
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	772	583	511	72	12.3	189	75.5	66.2
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	233	198	184	14	7.2	35	85.0	78.9
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	9	7	6	2	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	0	0	0	0	.	0	.	.
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,155	1,007	927	80	7.9	148	87.2	80.3
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	163	126	112	14	11.4	37	77.4	68.5
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	679	598	555	43	7.3	81	88.1	81.7
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	311	281	259	22	7.7	30	90.3	83.4
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	2	1	1	0	.	0	.	.
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,186	1,078	1,028	50	4.6	108	90.9	86.7
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	119	91	84	6	6.8	29	75.9	70.8
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	401	356	340	16	4.6	46	88.6	84.6
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	659	626	599	27	4.3	33	95.0	91.0
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	6	5	5	1	.	1	.	.
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,193	1,094	1,061	33	3.0	99	91.7	89.0
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	134	99	92	7	7.3	35	74.0	68.6
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	384	345	334	12	3.3	39	90.0	87.0
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	669	646	632	14	2.2	23	96.6	94.4
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	6	3	3	0	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,169	1,047	1,012	36	3.4	122	89.6	86.5
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	156	116	109	7	6.2	40	74.4	69.8
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	367	321	310	11	3.5	46	87.6	84.5
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	635	601	585	16	2.7	34	94.6	92.1
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	12	10	9	1	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,084	964	934	30	3.1	120	89.0	86.2
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	174	130	122	7	5.6	44	74.7	70.5
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	349	307	298	8	2.8	43	87.7	85.3
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	553	523	509	14	2.7	31	94.5	91.9
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	7	5	5	0	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,049	920	899	21	2.3	129	87.7	85.7
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	173	119	116	4	3.0	54	69.0	66.9
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	358	317	309	7	2.2	42	88.4	86.4
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	511	480	469	10	2.2	32	93.8	91.8
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	7	5	4	0	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,126	984	957	27	2.7	142	87.4	85.1
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	217	159	153	6	3.6	58	73.1	70.5
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	427	373	363	10	2.7	54	87.3	85.0
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	475	447	437	10	2.3	28	94.2	92.0
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	6	5	5	0	.	1	.	.
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Total	2026 1st quarter	1,260	1,048	1,021	28	2.6	212	83.2	81.0
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 1st quarter	307	215	209	6	2.8	92	70.0	68.1
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Upper secondary	2026 1st quarter	490	421	412	10	2.3	68	86.0	84.0
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Tertiary	2026 1st quarter	450	404	393	11	2.8	46	89.8	87.3
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Unknown	2026 1st quarter	14	8	8	1	.	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 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.