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 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 2nd quarter	13,447	10,231	9,846	385	3.8	3,216	76.1	73.2
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	3,273	1,985	1,855	130	6.6	1,287	60.7	56.7
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	4,801	3,697	3,575	122	3.3	1,104	77.0	74.5
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	5,287	4,497	4,372	126	2.8	789	85.1	82.7
Total male and female	15 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	87	51	45	7	12.8	35	59.1	51.6
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,163	1,803	1,652	151	8.4	361	83.3	76.3
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	958	743	653	90	12.1	215	77.6	68.2
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	896	786	738	47	6.0	110	87.7	82.4
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	308	272	259	13	4.9	35	88.5	84.2
Total male and female	15 to 24 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	2	2	1	0	.	0	.	.
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	11,443	9,770	9,394	376	3.9	1,673	85.4	82.1
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	2,544	1,843	1,714	129	7.0	701	72.5	67.4
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	4,117	3,540	3,420	120	3.4	577	86.0	83.1
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	4,707	4,339	4,216	122	2.8	368	92.2	89.6
Total male and female	15 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	75	48	43	6	11.4	27	64.5	57.1
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	4,636	4,170	4,038	132	3.2	466	89.9	87.1
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	554	401	377	24	5.9	153	72.3	68.0
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,481	1,311	1,273	38	2.9	170	88.5	85.9
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	2,569	2,435	2,367	67	2.8	135	94.8	92.1
Total male and female	25 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	32	24	21	3	.	8	74.3	65.9
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,378	2,164	2,088	76	3.5	214	91.0	87.8
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	237	168	157	11	6.3	69	70.8	66.4
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	765	683	660	24	3.5	82	89.3	86.2
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	1,364	1,304	1,264	41	3.1	60	95.6	92.6
Total male and female	25 to 34 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	11	8	7	1	.	3	.	.
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,259	2,006	1,951	55	2.8	252	88.8	86.4
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	317	233	219	13	5.7	84	73.4	69.3
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	716	628	613	15	2.3	88	87.7	85.6
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	1,205	1,130	1,104	26	2.3	75	93.8	91.6
Total male and female	35 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	21	16	14	1	.	5	.	.
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,163	1,882	1,837	45	2.4	281	87.0	84.9
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	375	268	261	8	2.9	106	71.6	69.5
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	790	688	672	16	2.3	102	87.0	85.1
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	982	914	894	20	2.2	67	93.1	91.1
Total male and female	45 to 54 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	16	11	10	2	.	5	.	.
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	4,643	3,797	3,704	93	2.5	846	81.8	79.8
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,032	699	685	15	2.1	333	67.8	66.3
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,740	1,443	1,409	34	2.4	297	82.9	81.0
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	1,830	1,632	1,590	42	2.6	198	89.2	86.9
Total male and female	45 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	41	23	20	3	.	18	55.6	49.3
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	6,647	4,258	4,156	102	2.4	2,390	64.1	62.5
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	1,761	842	826	16	1.9	919	47.8	46.9
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	2,424	1,600	1,564	37	2.3	824	66.0	64.5
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	2,410	1,790	1,745	45	2.5	620	74.3	72.4
Total male and female	45 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	53	26	22	4	.	27	48.7	41.9
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,480	1,915	1,867	48	2.5	565	77.2	75.3
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	657	431	424	7	1.6	226	65.6	64.5
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	950	755	737	18	2.4	195	79.5	77.6
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	848	717	695	22	3.1	131	84.6	82.0
Total male and female	55 to 64 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	25	12	11	1	.	13	.	.
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	2,005	461	453	8	1.8	1,544	23.0	22.6
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	729	142	141	1	0.8	587	19.5	19.3
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	684	157	155	3	1.6	527	23.0	22.6
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	580	159	155	4	2.2	422	27.3	26.7
Total male and female	65 to 74 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	12	3	2	1	.	9	.	.
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,010	803	709	95	11.8	207	79.5	70.2
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	782	606	529	77	12.7	177	77.4	67.6
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	221	192	175	17	8.9	30	86.5	78.8
Total male and female	15 to 19 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	6	6	5	0	.	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	943	57	5.7	154	86.7	81.7
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	176	137	124	13	9.5	38	78.3	70.8
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	675	594	564	30	5.1	81	88.0	83.6
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	302	267	254	13	5.0	35	88.4	84.0
Total male and female	20 to 24 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	2	1	1	0	.	0	.	.
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,188	1,078	1,037	41	3.8	109	90.8	87.3
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	110	81	76	5	6.3	29	73.5	68.9
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	399	357	344	13	3.6	42	89.6	86.4
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	673	636	614	22	3.5	37	94.5	91.2
Total male and female	25 to 29 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	6	4	3	1	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,190	1,086	1,050	35	3.3	104	91.2	88.3
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	127	87	81	6	6.4	40	68.6	64.2
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	366	326	315	11	3.4	40	89.0	86.0
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	691	668	650	18	2.8	23	96.6	94.0
Total male and female	30 to 34 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	6	5	4	0	.	1	.	.
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,171	1,040	1,008	32	3.1	131	88.8	86.1
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	152	111	103	7	6.7	41	73.1	68.2
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	372	323	315	9	2.6	49	86.8	84.6
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	633	594	579	15	2.5	38	93.9	91.6
Total male and female	35 to 39 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	15	12	11	1	.	3	.	.
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,087	966	942	23	2.4	121	88.9	86.7
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	165	122	116	6	4.7	43	73.8	70.3
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	344	304	298	6	2.0	39	88.6	86.8
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	572	536	525	11	2.1	36	93.7	91.7
Total male and female	40 to 44 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	6	4	3	0	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,050	920	899	20	2.2	130	87.6	85.6
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	164	116	111	4	3.5	49	70.2	67.7
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	376	330	322	8	2.3	46	87.7	85.7
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	503	470	462	8	1.8	33	93.4	91.8
Total male and female	45 to 49 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	7	5	4	0	.	2	.	.
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,113	962	937	25	2.6	150	86.5	84.3
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	210	153	149	4	2.4	57	72.7	71.0
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	414	358	350	8	2.2	56	86.4	84.5
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	478	444	433	12	2.6	34	92.9	90.4
Total male and female	50 to 54 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	9	7	5	1	.	3	.	.
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Total	2026 2nd quarter	1,260	1,048	1,022	26	2.5	212	83.2	81.1
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Primary, lower secondary	2026 2nd quarter	298	211	207	3	1.6	87	70.7	69.5
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Upper secondary	2026 2nd quarter	495	420	410	10	2.4	74	85.0	83.0
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Tertiary	2026 2nd quarter	455	410	398	12	2.9	45	90.0	87.4
Total male and female	55 to 59 years	Unknown	2026 2nd quarter	12	7	6	1	.	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.

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.