More and more Dutch people are working, and especially more women are in the economy

The increase in the past 20 years is mainly due to the growth in the number of employees. Between 2003 and 2023, there were 1.8 million people in gainful employment. At the same time, the number of unemployed decreased by about 150 thousand.

Between the second quarter of 2003 and the same period this year, the number of people aged 45 to 75 in particular increased by about 1.6 million. This is due in part to the growth in the population over 45 years of age, but also to the relatively strong increase in work participation in this age group.

Participation in labor has risen sharply, particularly among women. The number of working youth between the ages of 15 and 25 has also increased by more than 300,000. Moreover, the number of working people between the ages of 25 and 45 has fallen by more than 100,000 due to fewer men in that age group.