Labour participation; position in the household

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Sex Age Position in household 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) Not in the labour force (x 1 000)
Total male and female 15 to 74 years Single person 2,988 2,083 1,986 97 905
Parent 4,493 3,947 3,860 87 546
Parent in single-parent household 531 417 400 17 114
15 to 24 years Single person 378 317 289 28 61
Parent 32 27 23 5 4
Parent in single-parent household 18 16 13 3 3
25 to 44 years Single person 1,071 933 897 36 138
Parent 2,130 1,915 1,869 46 215
Parent in single-parent household 190 149 143 6 41
25 to 34 years Single person 665 592 570 22 73
Parent 623 552 541 11 71
Parent in single-parent household 58 44 42 2 14
35 to 44 years Single person 406 341 326 14 65
Parent 1,507 1,363 1,329 35 144
Parent in single-parent household 132 105 101 5 27
45 to 54 years Single person 400 306 294 11 94
Parent 1,447 1,301 1,278 23 146
Parent in single-parent household 199 164 159 5 34
45 to 74 years Single person 1,540 834 800 33 706
Parent 2,331 2,004 1,968 36 327
Parent in single-parent household 323 252 244 8 71
55 to 64 years Single person 605 426 409 17 179
Parent 757 653 642 12 103
Parent in single-parent household 104 83 81 2 21
65 to 74 years Single person 534 102 97 5 433
Parent 128 50 49 1 78
Parent in single-parent household 20 4 4 0 16
Male 15 to 74 years Single person 1,622 1,184 1,124 60 439
Parent 2,125 1,987 1,951 36 138
Parent in single-parent household 132 113 110 3 19
15 to 24 years Single person 193 161 142 19 32
Parent 11 9 9 1 1
Parent in single-parent household 7 6 5 1 1
25 to 44 years Single person 635 562 541 21 73
Parent 910 882 865 18 28
Parent in single-parent household 29 27 26 0 2
25 to 34 years Single person 388 345 334 11 43
Parent 229 222 219 3 6
Parent in single-parent household 6 6 6 0 0
35 to 44 years Single person 247 217 207 10 30
Parent 681 660 645 15 21
Parent in single-parent household 23 20 20 0 2
45 to 54 years Single person 238 185 179 6 53
Parent 687 656 645 11 31
Parent in single-parent household 54 48 46 1 6
45 to 74 years Single person 794 461 441 20 334
Parent 1,205 1,096 1,078 18 109
Parent in single-parent household 96 81 79 2 15
55 to 64 years Single person 313 222 211 11 91
Parent 432 400 393 6 32
Parent in single-parent household 34 31 31 1 3
65 to 74 years Single person 243 54 51 3 189
Parent 86 40 39 1 46
Parent in single-parent household 7 2 2 0 6
Female 15 to 74 years Single person 1,366 900 862 38 466
Parent 2,368 1,960 1,909 51 408
Parent in single-parent household 399 303 290 13 95
15 to 24 years Single person 185 156 147 9 29
Parent 21 18 14 4 3
Parent in single-parent household 11 10 8 2 1
25 to 44 years Single person 436 371 356 15 65
Parent 1,221 1,033 1,005 28 187
Parent in single-parent household 160 122 116 6 38
25 to 34 years Single person 277 247 236 11 30
Parent 394 330 321 8 65
Parent in single-parent household 51 37 36 1 14
35 to 44 years Single person 159 124 119 5 35
Parent 826 704 684 20 123
Parent in single-parent household 109 85 80 5 24
45 to 54 years Single person 162 121 116 5 41
Parent 760 645 633 12 115
Parent in single-parent household 145 117 113 4 28
45 to 74 years Single person 745 373 360 13 373
Parent 1,127 908 891 18 218
Parent in single-parent household 227 171 166 5 56
55 to 64 years Single person 292 204 198 6 88
Parent 324 254 248 5 71
Parent in single-parent household 70 52 51 2 18
65 to 74 years Single person 291 48 46 2 243
Parent 42 10 9 0 32
Parent in single-parent household 12 2 2 0 10
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains quarterly and yearly figures on labour participation by position in the household 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 whether they are in education is available.

Data available from: 2013

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are final.

Changes as of November 13, 2025:
The figures for the 3rd quarter 2025 have been added.

Changes as of November 15, 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 February 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 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.
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.
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.