Unemployment is rising faster among migrants
The unemployment rate among people who have migrated to the Netherlands has risen from 5.8 percent in 2024 to 6.9 percent in the first three quarters of 2026. Unemployment has also risen among second-generation migrants (people born in the Netherlands but with one or both parents born abroad), from 5.3 percent to 6.0 percent over the same period. This is according to the Report on Integration and Society 2026 and new figures on unemployment and ethnic background from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
The rise in unemployment was the smallest among people of Dutch origin (i.e. people who were born in the Netherlands, and whose parents were also both born in the Netherlands), from 2.9 percent to 3.0 percent.
The difference between the unemployment rate among migrants (defined as people who were born outside the Netherlands) and the average unemployment rate actually narrowed until 2022, and then remained stable until 2024.
| Jaar | Total (% of workforce aged between 15 years and state pension age) | Born in the Netherlands, both parents born in the Netherlands (% of workforce aged between 15 years and state pension age) | Born in the Netherlands, one or both parents born elsewhere (% of workforce aged between 15 years and state pension age) | Born outside the Netherlands (% of workforce aged between 15 years and state pension age) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 8.2 | 6.9 | 12.1 | 13.8 |
| 2014 | 8.4 | 7.0 | 13.0 | 13.3 |
| 2015 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 12.4 | 12.7 |
| 2016 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 10.3 | 11.2 |
| 2017 | 5.9 | 4.9 | 8.9 | 9.5 |
| 2018 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 6.9 | 7.6 |
| 2019 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 6.7 | 7.0 |
| 2020 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 7.2 | 7.5 |
| 2021 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 6.1 | 7.9 |
| 2022 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| 2023 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 5.3 | 5.8 |
| 2024 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 5.3 | 5.8 |
| 2025 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 6.4 |
| 2026¹⁾ | 4.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 6.9 |
| 1) 2026: only the first three quarters | ||||
Unemployment is rising across all age groups, but highest among young migrants
The difference in unemployment between migrants and the average for the population as a whole has been widening since 2025. The fact that migrants are more likely to be unemployed is partly due to their age. Migrants are younger, on average, and young people are generally more likely to be unemployed.
Unemployment among people in the labour force aged 15-24 rose from 12.9 percent in 2024 to 14.8 percent in 2025. Unemployment among this group also continued to rise in the first three quarters of 2026. The same is true among second-generation migrants. In this group, unemployment rose from 11.6 percent in 2024 to 12.1 percent in 2025. This rise continued into the first three quarters of 2026.
Among people of Dutch origin aged 15-24, unemployment actually fell between 2024 and 2025, from 7.2 percent to 6.9 percent of the labour force, before rising slightly again n 2026.
The difference between the unemployment rate among migrants and the average unemployment rate has also widened slightly among people aged 25-44 years, since 2025. The same is true of those aged 45 and over.
| Jaren | Total (% of workforce) | Born in the Netherlands, both parents born in the Netherlands (% of workforce) | Born in the Netherlands, one or both parents born elsewhere (% of workforce) | Born outside the Netherlands (% of workforce) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-24 years old | ||||
| 2026¹⁾ | 9.0 | 7.0 | 12.3 | 15.3 |
| 2025 | 8.8 | 6.9 | 12.1 | 14.8 |
| 2024 | 8.7 | 7.2 | 11.6 | 12.9 |
| 25-44 years old | ||||
| 2026¹⁾ | 3.4 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 6.6 |
| 2025 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 5.9 |
| 2024 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 5.9 |
| 45 years - state pension age | ||||
| 2026¹⁾ | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 4.7 |
| 2025 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| 2024 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 3.6 |
| 1) 2026: only the first three quarters | ||||
Unemployment is highest among people without a basic educational qualification
Among migrants and second-generation migrants aged between 25 and the state pension age, unemployment is higher among those without a basic educational qualification. A basic educational qualification means that a person has successfully completed senior general secondary education (HAVO), pre-university education (VWO) or basic vocational education (MBO-2). Unemployment among all groups rose between 2024 and the first three quarters of 2026. Among people of Dutch origin, the unemployment rate is equally high among those with and without a basic educational qualification, and unemployment has not risen significantly in either of these groups.
The unemployment rate among migrants aged between 25 and state pension age who have a basic educational qualification is almost 3 percentage points higher than average. The difference with the national average is similar among migrants without a basic educational qualification.
| Startkwalificatie | Total (%) | Born in the Netherlands, both parents born in the Netherlands (%) | Born in the Netherlands, one or both parents born elsewhere (%) | Born outside the Netherlands (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| With basic educational qualification | ||||
| 2026¹⁾ | 2.8 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 5.5 |
| 2025 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 5.1 |
| 2024 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 4.5 |
| Without basic educational qualification | ||||
| 2026¹⁾ | 3.8 | 2.1 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| 2025 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 5.2 | 5.8 |
| 2024 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 5.9 |
| 1)2026: only the first three quarters. | ||||
Sources
- StatLine - Labour participation; key figures
- StatLine - Labour participation; young people