Labour participation; key figures

Changed on: 30/07/2026 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 Unemployed labour force (x 1 000)	Labour force Unemployment rate (%)	Labour force Employed labour force Employed labour force (x 1 000)	Not in the labour force (x 1 000)
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	13,447	10,231	385	3.8	9,846	3,216
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	3,273	1,985	130	6.6	1,855	1,287
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	4,801	3,697	122	3.3	3,575	1,104
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	5,287	4,497	126	2.8	4,372	789
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	87	51	7	12.8	45	35
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,163	1,803	151	8.4	1,652	361
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	958	743	90	12.1	653	215
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	896	786	47	6.0	738	110
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	308	272	13	4.9	259	35
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	2	2	0	.	1	0
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	11,443	9,770	376	3.9	9,394	1,673
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	2,544	1,843	129	7.0	1,714	701
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	4,117	3,540	120	3.4	3,420	577
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	4,707	4,339	122	2.8	4,216	368
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	75	48	6	11.4	43	27
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	4,636	4,170	132	3.2	4,038	466
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	554	401	24	5.9	377	153
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,481	1,311	38	2.9	1,273	170
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	2,569	2,435	67	2.8	2,367	135
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	32	24	3	.	21	8
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,378	2,164	76	3.5	2,088	214
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	237	168	11	6.3	157	69
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	765	683	24	3.5	660	82
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	1,364	1,304	41	3.1	1,264	60
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	11	8	1	.	7	3
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,259	2,006	55	2.8	1,951	252
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	317	233	13	5.7	219	84
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	716	628	15	2.3	613	88
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	1,205	1,130	26	2.3	1,104	75
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	21	16	1	.	14	5
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,163	1,882	45	2.4	1,837	281
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	375	268	8	2.9	261	106
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	790	688	16	2.3	672	102
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	982	914	20	2.2	894	67
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	16	11	2	.	10	5
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	4,643	3,797	93	2.5	3,704	846
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,032	699	15	2.1	685	333
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,740	1,443	34	2.4	1,409	297
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	1,830	1,632	42	2.6	1,590	198
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	41	23	3	.	20	18
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	6,647	4,258	102	2.4	4,156	2,390
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,761	842	16	1.9	826	919
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	2,424	1,600	37	2.3	1,564	824
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	2,410	1,790	45	2.5	1,745	620
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	53	26	4	.	22	27
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,480	1,915	48	2.5	1,867	565
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	657	431	7	1.6	424	226
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	950	755	18	2.4	737	195
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	848	717	22	3.1	695	131
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	25	12	1	.	11	13
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,005	461	8	1.8	453	1,544
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	729	142	1	0.8	141	587
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	684	157	3	1.6	155	527
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	580	159	4	2.2	155	422
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	12	3	1	.	2	9
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,010	803	95	11.8	709	207
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	782	606	77	12.7	529	177
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	221	192	17	8.9	175	30
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	6	6	0	.	5	0
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	0	0	0	.	0	0
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,154	1,000	57	5.7	943	154
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	176	137	13	9.5	124	38
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	675	594	30	5.1	564	81
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	302	267	13	5.0	254	35
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	2	1	0	.	1	0
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,188	1,078	41	3.8	1,037	109
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	110	81	5	6.3	76	29
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	399	357	13	3.6	344	42
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	673	636	22	3.5	614	37
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	6	4	1	.	3	2
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,190	1,086	35	3.3	1,050	104
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	127	87	6	6.4	81	40
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	366	326	11	3.4	315	40
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	691	668	18	2.8	650	23
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	6	5	0	.	4	1
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,171	1,040	32	3.1	1,008	131
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	152	111	7	6.7	103	41
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	372	323	9	2.6	315	49
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	633	594	15	2.5	579	38
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	15	12	1	.	11	3
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,087	966	23	2.4	942	121
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	165	122	6	4.7	116	43
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	344	304	6	2.0	298	39
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	572	536	11	2.1	525	36
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	6	4	0	.	3	2
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,050	920	20	2.2	899	130
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	164	116	4	3.5	111	49
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	376	330	8	2.3	322	46
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	503	470	8	1.8	462	33
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	7	5	0	.	4	2
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,113	962	25	2.6	937	150
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	210	153	4	2.4	149	57
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	414	358	8	2.2	350	56
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	478	444	12	2.6	433	34
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	9	7	1	.	5	3
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,260	1,048	26	2.5	1,022	212
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	298	211	3	1.6	207	87
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	495	420	10	2.4	410	74
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	455	410	12	2.9	398	45
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	12	7	1	.	6	5
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 July 30, 2026:
The figures for the 2nd 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 October 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.