New asylum applicants more likely to be in work than 10 years ago

Engineers working in a workshop
© ANP / Remko de Waal
  • Asylum applicants who who have been granted a residence permit are entering employment more often and more quickly, especially young males. 
  • They are also more likely than average to be in temporary work or on a zero-hours employment contract. 
  • Half of this group are employed in the hospitality sector or wok for a temporary employment agency within six months.

Among successful asylum applicants aged 18 to 64 who were granted residence status in the Netherlands in 2024, 13 percent were in work within three months. This is a higher share than among those who were granted residence in 2014, only 1 percent of whom were in work within three months. Among those granted residence in 2024, around half were on a ‘zero-hours’ employment contract (i.e. an employment contract with no fixed minimum number of working hours). Over a quarter found their first job through a temporary employment agency, more than twice as many as in 2014. This is according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in its recently published Asylum and Integration 2026.

Between 2014 and the first half of 2025, over 311 thousand asylum seekers were granted asylum residence permits in the Netherlands (a group known as ‘status holders’). This number varies each year, as does the composition of the group. In 2014, 57 percent were aged 18 to 44, but in other years this share was lower. In 2018, only 36 percent were in that age group, the lowest share recorded. In most years, more male asylum applicants (around 60 percent) than females were granted residence. Only in 2017 and in the first half of 2025 were slightly more residence permits granted to female asylum applicants.

Resience permits granted to asylum applicants
Jaar0-11 yrs (x 1,000)12-17 yrs (x 1,000)18-24 yrs (x 1,000)25-34 yrs (x 1,000)35-44 yrs (x 1,000)45 yrs and older (x 1,000)Age unknown (x 1,000)
20144.4502.4253.6604.9502.5401.5950.035
20158.4804.5155.6107.5003.9152.5050.260
20169.8504.6906.0408.0954.4303.3600.225
201710.2803.6403.4054.7303.1953.1350.305
20186.6151.7701.6602.4051.7951.7900.200
20196.2301.9401.5902.4401.7801.5150.085
20205.7151.6552.0453.6902.4451.8800.140
20218.6903.3303.5805.4553.6902.5450.270
20228.4904.1904.7006.8004.7403.5300.385
20237.9704.1254.6806.5554.0502.9750.285
20248.2755.1405.4606.7804.6354.0250.250

Almost 30 percent at school in 2024

There are many variations between different years. For example, among those granted residence in 2024, 28 percent were in school within three months, compared to 32 percent for the 2014 group. Conditions in the labour market situation and government policy also changed between 2014 and 2024. The ‘24-week rule’, for example, according to which asylum seekers were only allowed to work a maximum of 24 weeks in a given 52-week period, was scrapped at the end of 2023. The pandemic may also have led to variations.

Status holders are finding employment more quickly

Asylum seekers whose application has been accepted and who hold a residence permit (status holders) are free to work in the Netherlands. Among those aged 18 to 64 who were granted residence between 2014 and 2020, the share of those in employment within three months never surpassed 3 percent. Since 2020, this has increased gradually, from 6 percent in 2021 to 13 percent in 2024.

The longer that asylum applicants hold a residence permit, the more likely they are to be working. Of those granted residence in 2014, 19 percent were working three years later, while among those granted residence in 2021, the share was almost 33 percent. After seven years, almost 52 percent of 2014 residence permit holders had a job. Among young males (18 to 34 years), the share in work was above 70 percent.

Status holders in work, by age and sex
Months after being granted residence status2014, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2015, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2016, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2017, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2018, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2019, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2020, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2021, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2022, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2023, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2024, Total 18-65 yrs (%)2014, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2015, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2016, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2017, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2018, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2019, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2020, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2021, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2022, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2023, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2024, Total 18-25 yrs (%)2014, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2015, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2016, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2017, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2018, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2019, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2020, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2021, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2022, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2023, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2024, Total 25-35 yrs (%)2014, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2015, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2016, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2017, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2018, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2019, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2020, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2021, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2022, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2023, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2024, Total 35-45 yrs (%)2014, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2015, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2016, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2017, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2018, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2019, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2020, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2021, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2022, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2023, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2024, Total 45-55 yrs (%)2014, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2015, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2016, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2017, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2018, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2019, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2020, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2021, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2022, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2023, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2024, Total 55-65 yrs (%)2014, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2015, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2016, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2017, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2018, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2019, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2020, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2021, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2022, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2023, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2024, Females 18-65 yrs (%)2014, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2015, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2016, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2017, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2018, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2019, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2020, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2021, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2022, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2023, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2024, Females 18-25 yrs (%)2014, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2015, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2016, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2017, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2018, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2019, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2020, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2021, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2022, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2023, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2024, Females 25-35 yrs (%)2014, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2015, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2016, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2017, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2018, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2019, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2020, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2021, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2022, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2023, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2024, Females 35-45 yrs (%)2014, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2015, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2016, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2017, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2018, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2019, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2020, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2021, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2022, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2023, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2024, Females 45-55 yrs (%)2014, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2015, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2016, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2017, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2018, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2019, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2020, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2021, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2022, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2023, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2024, Females 55-65 yrs (%)2014, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1332015, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1342016, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1352017, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1362018, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1372019, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1382020, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1392021, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1402022, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1412023, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1422024, Females 18-65 yrs (%)_1432014, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1442015, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1452016, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1462017, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1472018, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1482019, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1492020, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1502021, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1512022, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1522023, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1532024, Females 18-25 yrs (%)_1542014, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1552015, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1562016, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1572017, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1582018, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1592019, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1602020, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1612021, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1622022, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1632023, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1642024, Females 25-35 yrs (%)_1652014, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1662015, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1672016, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1682017, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1692018, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1702019, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1712020, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1722021, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1732022, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1742023, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1752024, Females 35-45 yrs (%)_1762014, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1772015, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1782016, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1792017, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1802018, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1812019, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1822020, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1832021, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1842022, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1852023, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1862024, Females 45-55 yrs (%)_1872014, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1882015, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1892016, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1902017, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1912018, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1922019, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1932020, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1942021, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1952022, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1962023, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_1972024, Females 55-65 yrs (%)_198
31.00.61.01.22.12.62.75.67.511.912.91.40.61.11.62.13.23.05.67.813.714.31.00.71.31.73.33.93.47.510.015.417.10.80.51.01.11.42.22.64.86.59.511.20.91.12.83.96.06.61.32.81.30.81.52.43.64.23.78.711.117.318.61.60.81.63.13.64.43.88.311.118.318.51.31.01.93.35.26.44.411.514.622.7251.10.81.52.43.23.84.08.210.514.718.42.04.65.78.49.43.30.50.30.20.30.70.81.01.82.02.82.90.91.51.72.64.03.50.50.51.60.91.62.82.53.241.41.32.02.21.01.31.5
61.41.01.92.03.13.63.78.411.114.82.21.32.32.74.45.64.39.612.918.11.61.22.42.84.54.74.711.214.317.90.90.71.41.42.32.83.26.89.411.90.40.71.31.53.85.37.51.92.21.91.52.83.75.35.54.913.016.421.22.81.83.35.17.07.45.313.617.923.92.01.83.65.37.47.56.017.521.026.31.41.02.32.84.54.84.611.314.918.30.71.42.52.66.08.010.83.13.40.50.40.40.71.01.21.52.93.13.90.90.70.50.81.23.02.33.54.75.60.50.61.11.61.42.33.83.94.51.02.42.03.11.21.51.9
122.72.44.04.46.65.47.211.512.315.24.43.65.87.812.210.010.817.917.421.62.42.74.85.37.85.99.313.314.516.42.01.62.42.63.94.15.48.29.412.10.90.81.41.12.11.54.75.57.81.52.42.13.43.75.98.010.87.99.816.817.621.05.35.47.912.717.713.413.523.223.226.93.04.17.310.513.49.012.319.720.523.12.62.33.95.68.36.28.312.815.118.01.32.31.94.12.57.78.010.93.93.31.10.61.01.42.42.12.85.04.05.42.30.91.92.86.15.15.49.17.39.20.90.61.11.62.72.24.35.75.05.70.71.21.03.71.74.21.42.4
184.04.87.88.210.18.111.615.514.66.57.512.915.219.715.920.626.523.93.85.08.59.611.29.213.816.615.73.03.14.34.66.74.88.611.211.01.21.32.62.23.71.73.16.36.21.12.22.25.27.311.514.716.511.715.322.220.08.011.117.323.728.020.724.633.930.05.07.813.018.819.313.618.024.421.44.14.76.710.013.47.112.016.417.11.92.14.13.25.62.54.89.58.92.81.41.12.02.83.93.75.37.46.12.81.84.56.39.88.812.314.713.11.21.11.62.83.94.06.17.56.70.91.01.21.52.33.35.92.61.31.71.4
246.89.112.712.812.314.018.621.417.911.314.321.124.423.627.131.737.931.36.69.113.814.014.015.421.921.818.64.86.17.37.37.98.414.515.813.12.43.04.14.14.03.46.78.87.51.02.02.23.73.42.68.813.318.422.019.819.824.429.724.213.919.927.934.633.333.937.545.538.28.814.120.527.024.222.928.232.125.46.39.211.415.414.912.920.322.319.42.94.06.37.46.35.79.212.910.61.62.74.06.15.32.62.52.53.75.05.16.88.811.28.05.85.07.712.512.217.420.625.018.21.82.13.74.65.06.710.19.88.11.61.11.72.42.53.35.69.04.31.22.43.82.6
3011.614.720.417.115.621.924.926.718.423.232.831.830.040.442.344.911.414.422.318.517.022.528.727.79.110.912.910.711.316.220.421.14.15.77.06.84.77.19.612.02.31.92.53.14.35.915.021.328.528.424.530.532.136.422.031.341.343.341.148.148.452.715.122.232.434.328.333.836.839.712.516.119.521.420.624.028.229.65.07.710.411.77.812.013.818.12.92.63.05.57.28.64.44.77.17.46.911.212.514.810.09.115.517.816.128.030.632.03.53.66.66.77.19.813.913.42.03.13.84.24.47.68.212.12.51.52.41.61.73.84.6
3619.023.927.819.921.530.031.332.528.136.842.035.240.152.948.851.419.323.931.121.623.429.836.634.415.818.619.714.216.724.127.027.49.010.111.68.57.613.915.616.12.65.22.33.24.85.76.924.734.138.332.633.141.140.043.633.347.551.046.651.960.755.058.726.236.844.839.839.843.346.148.021.627.029.127.428.935.536.938.611.714.317.414.212.322.421.923.94.37.63.34.38.39.610.66.88.210.89.110.216.416.818.815.717.523.821.324.840.838.238.64.96.010.08.19.713.518.518.23.95.66.66.06.710.611.915.42.23.12.43.53.05.06.86.8
4227.131.733.122.629.035.537.238.745.946.939.052.357.455.128.432.837.524.731.836.443.423.526.226.016.623.532.133.813.015.416.610.411.716.521.14.15.06.32.64.78.37.535.444.045.336.443.347.447.145.556.856.449.463.264.261.338.248.853.044.652.451.754.432.337.738.433.340.146.044.717.721.924.117.220.026.030.56.58.28.73.96.912.911.39.712.613.510.715.120.820.523.425.827.025.238.146.743.67.310.613.310.114.218.421.75.29.08.86.39.816.416.93.24.75.04.53.76.58.1
4836.438.335.027.234.939.842.149.651.948.146.358.161.259.039.340.839.529.838.541.847.931.933.629.920.530.536.640.618.521.318.113.116.720.826.36.97.86.34.58.110.610.747.352.447.243.750.452.553.059.261.856.358.666.268.064.252.659.855.853.060.558.860.942.947.943.440.651.450.952.624.930.125.922.127.531.937.610.911.88.97.612.016.915.513.616.615.312.919.824.023.629.933.931.530.246.850.349.610.714.114.112.520.122.423.49.311.810.88.013.219.521.95.16.56.25.66.59.310.02.13.6
5442.639.536.533.439.543.555.351.649.055.662.263.647.342.441.436.643.445.138.135.331.726.836.642.023.924.821.317.221.526.28.39.56.06.19.212.054.453.549.252.055.156.264.160.457.565.969.168.461.661.557.763.065.362.450.750.146.052.858.657.032.434.530.728.534.139.311.814.58.610.114.117.918.017.915.917.424.127.937.435.632.141.852.556.316.015.615.516.725.025.212.113.711.810.818.124.16.98.96.87.69.812.63.2
6046.840.340.537.041.045.858.151.255.159.562.063.853.343.645.040.343.848.342.437.336.831.440.245.028.625.923.420.524.029.710.311.17.97.510.714.859.554.653.655.757.358.467.060.162.467.868.966.868.563.161.867.067.166.056.552.852.459.062.860.538.136.033.533.839.143.814.516.211.813.217.121.720.418.319.520.824.730.340.534.940.448.252.258.319.416.518.719.924.827.214.214.514.414.420.527.28.410.08.610.210.315.11.92.22.95.7
6647.441.546.340.043.858.753.062.763.566.552.545.051.943.246.645.438.342.134.842.530.127.528.223.827.312.213.010.28.011.559.456.060.157.960.566.461.370.470.272.666.864.869.267.970.059.554.059.062.265.239.338.438.937.443.917.519.714.413.618.422.819.324.224.527.144.437.847.454.257.520.617.424.524.127.517.415.218.117.722.310.79.712.012.612.72.62.62.12.9
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11459.466.467.661.047.423.469.568.577.574.558.031.839.563.943.833.225.76.3
12060.065.868.062.249.823.969.768.277.175.060.432.841.163.145.836.027.77.5

Most are employed in temporary work or on zero-hours employment contracts

When they first enter the employment market, a relatively high share of status holders work for a temporary employment agency or on zero-hours employment contracts. Among those granted residence in 2014 and in employment within three months, 25 percent were on a zero-hours contract. Among those granted residence in 2024, 48 percent had a zero-hours contract both after three months and after six months. A further 21 percent of those granted residence in 2024 were working for a temporary employment agency three months later.

Meanwhile, the share on zero-hours contracts in the labour force as a whole has actually fallen. Zero-hours contracts and temporary workers accounted for about 14 percent of the employed labour force in the Netherlands in 2014, falling to around 10 percent by 2024.

A quarter of status holders employed in hospitality sector within six months

28 percent of status holders granted residence in 2024 were working for a temporary employment agency six months later, and a further 26 percent were employed in the hospitality sector. Among females, the hospitality sector was the main employer, while among males it was temporary employment agencies. 10 percent of those granted residence in 2024 were working in retail. Among those granted residence in 2014, the hospitality sector was the largest employer six months later, with 39 percent of them working in it. In the labour force as a whole, 7 percent of workers worked for a temporary employment agency in early 2024, roughly the same share as in 2014.

 Accommodation and food services (% of status holders)Temporary employment agencies (% of status holders)Retail (excl cars) (% of status holders)Facility management, cleaning and property maintenance (% of status holders)Wholesale and trade intermediary (incl. trade and repair of cars) (% of status holders)Other (% of status holders)
2014 (N = 180)3911644
2015 (N = 195)46131031
2016 (N = 400)381584530
2017 (N = 280)302395528
2018 (N = 225)292494727
2019 (N = 250)322488424
2020 (N = 335)22161231037
2021 (N = 1185)2332116523
2022 (N = 2140)302996521
2023 (N = 2670)2831107618
2024 (N = 3535)2628107722

Asylum and integration 2026

The 2026 Report on Asylum and Integration (summary in English) provides an insight into the number of asylum seekers living in reception centres run by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), and the composition and integration of status holders in the Netherlands. This is the tenth publication in the series.

Every year since 2017, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has looked at how asylum seekers who have arrived in the Netherlands since 2014 are faring. This study was commissioned by the Netherlands’ Ministries of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and Asylum and Migration.

The publication contains figures on the length of time spent in COA reception centres, the waiting period for a residence permit, housing, civic integration, household composition, family reunification, education, naturalisation, work and income, use of health care, and crime. It also includes a separate section on Ukrainian refugees under the Temporary Protection Directive. The figures can also be viewed on the Asylum and Integration dashboard (in Dutch only).