Distribution of well-being: labour and leisure time

10/07/2026 06:30

Labour and leisure time concerns the quantity and quality of work, and the balance between work and leisure time. Paid and unpaid work gives people control over their lives and helps them develop skills and a sense of self-esteem and usefulness to society. Leisure time contributes to health, life satisfaction and social relationships. The differences between population groups are measured in terms of net labour participation, satisfaction with work and satisfaction with the amount of leisure time available.

People whose highest level of educational attainment is primary education or VMBO, and migrants from outside Europe, are less likely than average to be in paid work.
Workers aged 45 to 74, workers with a higher education degree and workers of native Dutch origin are more satisfied than average with their job.
Almost three-quarters of adults in the Netherlands were satisfied with the amount of leisure time they had in 2025. Those aged over 65, in particular, are more likely than average to be satisfied.

Net labour participation

Net labour participation refers to the share of the population that is part of the active labour force. The active labour force consists of people in paid work. The data on net labour participation relate to people aged 15 to 74. For more information on the labour market situation in the Netherlands, see Statistics Netherlands (2026) and SDG 8.2.

In 2025, 73.2 percent of the population aged 15 to 74 were in paid employment. Paid employment includes all paid work, irrespective of working hours; workers with small part-time jobs are also included. Net labour participation has increased since 2019, when it stood at 70 percent. In 2024 and 2025, however, the figure remained fairly stable.

In 2025, the net labour participation rate for men was above average (77.2 percent), while for women it was below average (69.3 percent). Net labour participation was highest among 25 to 34-year-olds, 35 to 44-year-olds and 45 to 54-year-olds, at 87.7 percent, 86.9 percent and 85.3 percent, respectively. However, the increase in labour force participation in these groups was lower than average between 2019 and 2025. Labour participation was lower, but still above average, among 55 to 64-year-olds (75.8 percent) and 15 to 24-year-olds (76 percent). Of those aged 65 to 74, 20.8 percent were in paid employment, which is lower than average. The majority of this group is retired. The increase in net labour participation compared to 2019 was higher than average among 55 to 74-year-olds.

Net labour participation was higher than average among those with a higher education degree (82.6 percent) and people with a senior general secondary education (HAVO), pre-university education (VWO) or senior secondary vocational education (MBO) qualification (74.8 percent). Of those with a prevocational secondary education (VMBO) qualification or equivalent, 57.3 percent were in paid employment, which is lower than average. Among those with a HAVO, VWO or MBO qualification, the increase in net labour participation compared to 2019 lagged behind the general trend. Among higher education graduates and those with a VMBO diploma or equivalent, the trend in net labour participation was in line with the general trend.

People with a native Dutch background had higher than average net labour participation (74.5 percent). The same is true of second-generation non-European migrants (76.7 percent). Second-generation European migrants (71.3 percent) and migrants from outside Europe (62.8 percent) have below-average labour participation. The standardised figures, however, show that second-generation non-European migrants and European migrants are actually less likely to be in paid employment than average. For both groups, this is mainly related to age. Second-generation migrants with origins outside Europe are relatively young, and include a high share of 15 to 44-year-olds. Similarly, a relatively large share of European migrants are aged 25 to 54. These are the age groups for which participation rates are relatively high. The increase in the percentage of people in paid employment was greater than average among people born in the Netherlands, regardless of where their parents were born. Among migrants from outside Europe, the increase in net labour participation was below average.

Job satisfaction

In 2025, 78.6 percent of all employees aged between 15 and 74 were (very) satisfied with their jobs, according to the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. This percentage was slightly higher than in 2022 (77.9 percent).

Unlike female employees, male employees are more likely than average to be satisfied with their work. Men also experienced an above-average increase in job satisfaction. Younger workers, especially those aged 25 to 44, are less likely than average to be satisfied with their jobs. Between 2022 and 2025, there was also a decline in job satisfaction among 15 to 24-year-old workers. Among older workers, job satisfaction actually increased sharply with age. Between 2022 and 2025, workers aged 55 to 64 experienced a higher than average increase in job satisfaction

Although employees with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree reported above-average job satisfaction, their job satisfaction rates did show a slight decline. Meanwhile, employees with a VMBO diploma or equivalent reported slightly below-average job satisfaction. Job satisfaction rates among workers with a HAVO, VWO or MBO diploma were close to the average. However, the standardised figures for these groups show that they are slightly less likely than average to be satisfied with their work. They did experience a stronger than average increase in job satisfaction compared to 2022.

Employees of Dutch origin were more likely than average to be satisfied with their work. They also experienced a higher than average increase in job satisfaction compared to 2022. Among second-generation migrants from Europe, job satisfaction was very close to the average. By contrast, second-generation migrants from outside Europe and workers born outside the Netherlands reported below-average levels of job satisfaction. Among second-generation migrants from outside Europe, job satisfaction also declined between 2022 and 2025.

Satisfaction with leisure time

In 2025, 73.9 percent of adults in the Netherlands were satisfied with the amount of leisure time they had. This figure has not changed significantly from 2019.

There is no difference between men and women when it comes to satisfaction with leisure time. However, satisfaction with leisure time has increased at a slightly above-average rate for men since 2019, rising by 1.4 percentage points. Among women, meanwhile, there has been a decline of 1.9 percentage points.

People of different ages judge the amount of leisure time they have differently. Those between the ages of 18 and 54 are less likely than average to be satisfied (about two-thirds of them are satisfied), whereas those aged 55 and over are more likely than average to be satisfied. Among people aged 65 and over, nearly 94 percent are satisfied with the amount of leisure time they have.

At 78.8 percent, those with a VMBO qualification or equivalent are more likely than average to be satisfied with the amount of leisure time they have. However, after standardisation – adjusting for unequal composition by sex, age and origin – this group’s leisure time satisfaction is not above average.

People of Dutch origin are more satisfied than average with how much leisure time they have, with 77.7 percent saying they are satisfied. Moreover, this group’s leisure time satisfaction has risen by more than the average since 2019, rising by 1.8 percentage points. First and second-generation migrants with origins outside Europe are less satisfied than average. For the latter group, however, leisure time satisfaction no longer appears to deviate from the average after standardisation. The same applies to migrants born in Europe. Since 2019, leisure time satisfaction has fallen by 6.8 percentage points among people with origins outside Europe.