netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
november 2010
november 2010
netherlands
Workforce Profile
Josje Dikkers and Esha Zaveri
introduction to the netherlands
The Netherlands is a country on Western Europe’s mainland bordered by the North Sea
(Noordzee) in the west and north, by Germany at the east and by Belgium in the south. Its
capital city is Amsterdam, and its government is seated in The Hague.
Netherlands
Germany
Belgium
France
About this Statistical Profile
Organizations striving to be
employers-of-choice in different
countries around the world need
access to current information about
the economic, social, political, and
demographic characteristics of the
countries where their employees live
and work.
The Country Profile Series focuses
on statistics that can guide decisionmaking in the workplace: workforce
highlights, economic highlights, and
population highlights. This Country
Profile is part of a set of resources
about the Netherlands available
on the website of the Global
Perspectives Institute: www.bc.edu/
agingandwork.
The population of the Netherlands in 2009 was 16,515,057.1 Over 18% of its surface consists
of water, and large parts of the country are located below sea level. The land is protected
from the water through an extensive system of dikes, and has been reclaimed by creating
polders. The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces: Noord and Zuid-Holland,
Groningen, Friesland, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland, Utrecht, Noord-Brabant, Zeeland,
Limburg, and Flevoland.
Until the 16th century, the Low Countries (currently the Netherlands, Belgium and
Luxembourg) consisted of a number of duchies, counties, and bishoprics mostly under the
supremacy of the Holy Roman Empire.2 In 1549, Charles V brought the Netherlands under
his rule and that of his son, King Philip II of Spain. In 1568 the Netherlands, led by William I
of Orange, rebelled against Philip II during ‘the Revolt’, which formed the start of the Eighty
Year’s War.3 The ‘Union of Utrecht’ declared the independence of the Republic of the Seven
United Netherlands in 1581, and since 1830, the country has been known as the Kingdom of
the Netherlands. Since 1848 the Netherlands has maintained a parliamentary democracy,
under a constitutional monarchy made up of three political entities: the monarch,
government, and parliament.3
Today, the Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the world with the 16th
largest economy.4 The International Court of Justice and Interpol are seated in The Hague.
The Dutch population is growing at a modest rate, 0.5% per annum.2 The proportion of
ethnic minorities in the population increased from just over 16% in 1997 to 20% in 2009.4
Dutch national income rose by an average of 2.5% per annum in the period 1997-2008.4 In
2008, the Netherlands received the lowest score on the ‘misery index’ because of its low
unemployment and inflation rates.4
Sponsored by:
agework@bc.edu
1
labor force highlights
àà In 2009, 80% of the total Dutch population was in the labor force, which includes
persons age 15 years and above.5
àà The labor force participation rate in the Netherlands has grown in the past decade,
especially among women, older people and members of non-Western ethnic
minorities. The government’s target of increasing the number of people in work or
seeking employment by a further six percentage points over the coming seven years is
ambitious; the target is twice as high as the increase since 2000.4
àà The economically active population in the Netherlands is projected to increase
from 9 million in 2009 to 9.3 million in 2020. The “economically active population”
comprises all persons of either sex who furnish the supply of labor for the production
of goods and services during a specified time reference period.6
àà The ratio of people in work to the number of economically “inactive” people
(excluding old age pensioners) has improved; in 1998 there were 32 economically
inactive people for every 100 workers, while in 2008 this number had fallen to 25.4
àà The unemployment rate in 2008 was 3.0%.6
àà The unemployment rate among older people (55-64 years) has always been low in
the Netherlands, but has increased over the last four years. Because the majority of
older unemployed people have little chance of finding work again, the consequences
of the present recession are likely to be prolonged for them.4
àà In 2009, the average hours worked by employees in their primary job (either full or
part-time) was 30.6 hours compared to 33.7 hours in Denmark and 36.3 hours in
Sweden.5
àà In 2008, 36.1% of the employed labor force worked part time.5
àà In 2005, 13.1% of the total employed civilian labor force reported being selfemployed.5
Figure 1a. Employment as Percent of Total Population - Selected Regional Countries,
Age 15+, (2009)
80.0
Netherlands
67.4
Belgium
82.2
Denmark
71.0
France
77.6
Germany
85.1
Switzerland
0%
A majority of the Dutch population
(80%) is employed, compared to
77.6% in Germany and 82.2% in
Denmark.
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Source: OECD, (2010)5
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netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
Figure 1b. Employment as Percent of Total Population - Selected GNI Countries,
Age 15+, (2009)
november 2010
A larger portion of the Dutch
population is employed (80%)
compared to 77.9% in the United
States and 78.5% in the United
Kingdom.
Netherlands
80.0
Sweden
80.7
United States
77.9
United Kingdom
78.5
76.6
Austria
82.2
Denmark
78.3
Australia
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Source: OECD, (2010)5
Figure 2. Employment Rate, Ages 15-64, by Gender, the Netherlands and Comparable
Nations, 2008
Male
100%
82.3
81.8
In the Netherlands, 81.8% of the
male population and 70.2% of the
female population is employed.
Across all comparable countries
more men than women are
employed, with the smallest genderemployment gap in Sweden.
80%
70.2
60%
Female
85.4
78.1
75.9
74.4
73.5
69.1
68.2
73.1
78.5
76.4
66.8
65.7
66.7
United
Kingdom
Austria
Australia
65.4
64.3
79.6
78.4
60.0
55.7
40%
20%
0%
Netherlands Belgium Denmark
France
Germany Switzerland Sweden
United
States
Source: OECD, (2010)5
Figure 3. Employment Rates in the Netherlands, within Age Groups, 2009
100%
87.1
80%
In the Netherlands, employment
rates remain high for ages 25-54.
Employment rates are higher for
younger people (15-24) than older
persons (54-64).
60%
86.4
77.3
82.4
58.5
52.6
40%
20%
0%
15-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
Source: OECD, (2010)5
agework@bc.edu
3
Figure 4. Employment Rates in the Netherlands Compared to Selected Regional
Countries, within Age Groups, 2009
100%
Netherlands
Denmark
80%
Germany
Belgium
60%
France
40%
20%
0%
In 2009, the Dutch employment
rates across age groups were fairly
similar to its neighbors with a
notable difference in the youngest
age groups (age15-29), where
the Netherlands has the highest
employment rate followed closely by
Denmark.
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69
Source: OECD, (2010)5
Figure 5a. Current and Projected Economically Active Population Rates in the Netherlands, within Age Groups, 2009 and 2020
100%
90.3
91.8
94.0
90.9
93.9
90.0
89.5
91.7
83.1 83.8
87.8
89.5
83.9
2009
2020
86.6
Current projections do not indicate
much variation in the economically
active population between now and
2020. However, the most notable
increases are seen in the 55-64 age
group.
78.1
80%
72.8
68.1
64.5
60%
42.1
40%
35.7
20%
6.4
0%
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
8.4
65+
Source: International Labor Organization, (2010)6
Figure 5b. Current and Projected Economically Active Population as % of Total Population in the Netherlands by Gender, 2009 and 2020
2009 Male 4.0
2009 Female 3.8
27.5
2020 Female 3.9
0%
20%
45+
25.1
25.9
10%
20-44
17.8
28.5
2020 Male 4.2
15-19
23.8
31.5
20.1
30%
40%
50%
60%
Source: International Labor Organization, (2010)6
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netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
november 2010
economic highlights
àà Gross Domestic Product per capita in the Netherlands was estimated at $39,500
in 2009, compared to $36,800 for Belgium and $34,100 for Germany. The GDP per
capita is somewhat less than that of the US which is $46,400.7
àà In 2007 the Dutch GDP grew by 3.9%.8 Since 2008 the global financial crisis has
hit the Netherlands hard. GDP grew by 1.9% in 2008 but declined by 4% in 2009.
The economy is making a slow recovery in 2010, however with an estimated growth
rate of 1.25%.9
Figure 6. GDP Growth, Regional Comparisons, 1990-2008
6
During the late 90’s the Netherlands
surpassed its neighbors in GDP
growth. There was a slump from
2000-2003, but the GDP grew
considerably thereafter till 2007.
Netherlands
5
Germany
4
Belgium
3
France
2
1
0
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1997
1998
1995
1996
1993
1994
1991
1992
1990
-1
*GDP growth figure for Germany in 2002 from OECD is missing.
Source: OECD, (2010)5
Figure 7. Total External Debt as Percentage of GDP, Selected Regional Countries, 1992-2008
150%
Netherlands
Germany
120%
France
90%
2008
2007
2006
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1997
1998
1996
1995
1994
1993
30%
2005
60%
1992
Dutch debt has seen a gradual
decline since 1993, but has begun to
rise since 2007.
Belgium
Source: OECD, (2010)5
agework@bc.edu
5
Income Facts about the Netherlands
• The average household income in the Netherlands increased between 1997 and 2007.
Couples with children and single-parent families have seen a proportionally strong
rise in their incomes since the beginning of the present decade.4
• Income inequality has remained fairly stable since 1997. The poverty rate has declined
slightly.4
• The total number of benefit recipients remained fairly constant between 1998 and
2008, at between 3.9 and 4.1 million. The rise in the number of people in receipt
of old-age pension is offset by a fall in those claiming disability benefits, social
assistance benefits, and surviving dependants’ benefits.4
• In late 2008/early 2009, 59 % of Dutch citizens were “satisfied” with their incomes.
The satisfaction rate was higher among pensioners (71%), and substantially lower
among benefit recipients younger than 65 years (28%).4
• In 2008-2009, 72% of the Dutch population held the view that income differentials
should be reduced.4
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netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
november 2010
demographic highlights
àà In 2009, the Dutch population was 16,418,000, compared to 10,542,000 for Belgium
and 5,473,000 for Denmark.5
àà In 2007, 4.2% of the population was of non–Dutch descent.5
àà The fertility rate in the Netherlands in 2010 is estimated at 1.66 children born/woman
(compared to the US and German rates at 2.06 and 1.42, respectively).7
àà In 2008, 14.8% of the population in the Netherlands was over the age of 65 compared
to 17.2% in Belgium and 13.7% in Australia.7
Figure 8. Median Age, by Gender (Country Comparisons, 2010)
Netherlands
40.0
36.8
Australia
40.7
43.0
39.8
38.2
Male
Belgium
Germany
Denmark
41.6
38.3
France
43.3
Female
45.6
41.6
41.2
0
10
20
30
40
50
Source: CIA, (2010)7
Figure 9. Life Expectancy at Birth (Country Comparisons, 2010)
Netherlands
76.9
79.3
76.2
76.4
76.1
77.9
Male
The life expectancy at birth in the
Netherlands is 76.9 for men and 82.3
for women. (See Figure 9)
Australia
Belgium
Germany
Denmark
82.3
84.3
82.7
82.6
81.0
84.4
Female
0
Source: CIA, (2010)
20
40
60
80
France
100
7
agework@bc.edu
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àà In the Netherlands, 19.8% of the male population and 23.5% of the female population
is 60+ years.10 In comparison:
• In Belgium, 21.3% of the male population and 26.5% of the female population
is 60+.
• In Australia, 18.1% of the male population and 20.6% of the female population
is 60+.
àà In the Netherlands the highest percentage of people, both male and female, are in
their 40’s. Also, the percentage of women in each age group 65+ is higher than men.
Belgium and Australia show a similar trend.10
(See Figures 10a-10c)
Figure 10a. Population Distribution of Netherlands, 2010
Male
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
10%
8%
6%
4%
Source: US Census Bureau, (2010)10
8
2%
0% 0%
2%
4%
6%
% of Population
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
8%
10%
netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
Figure 10b. Population Distribution of Belgium, 2010
Male
Female
november 2010
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0% 0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
8%
10%
% of Population
Source: US Census Bureau, (2010)10
Figure 10c. Population Distribution of Australia, 2010
Male
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
10%
8%
6%
4%
Source: US Census Bureau, (2010)10
agework@bc.edu
2%
0% 0%
2%
4%
6%
% of Population
9
Work and Family in the Netherlands
• A growing proportion of the Dutch population, 20-65 years, balanced paid work with
care tasks at home (38%) in 2005. Women most often combined work-home tasks.4
• Among working women, 56% regularly feel rushed, and many, (31%) think they fall
short on the “home front.” These feelings are slightly less common among working
men (45% and 21%, respectively).4
• The time that parents devote to their children (aged up to five years) is almost
21 hours per week for women and 10 hours per week for men, but is increasing.
Internationally, the Dutch take the lead in the amount of time they spend with their
children.4
10
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
november 2010
references
1 Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). (2010). Population. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from: http://www.cbs.
nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bevolking/cijfers/extra/bevolkingsteller.htm
2 Arblaster, P. (2006). A history of the low countries. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
3 Blok, P. J. (1898-1912). History of the people of the Netherlands (5 vols). Retrieved August 10, 2010 from http://
www.archive.org/stream/historyofpeopleo05blokuoft#page/n9/mode/2up
4 The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP). (2010). Social state of the Netherlands 2009 (scp-publication 2010/6). The Hague: SCP.
5 Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2010). StatExtracts. Country statistical profiles.
Retrieved July 19, 2010 from: http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx
6 International Labor Organization. (2010). LABORSTA internet. Retrieved July 19, 2010 from: http://laborsta.
ilo.org/
7 The Central Intelligence Agency. (2010).The world factbook 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010 from: https://www.
cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html
8 Eurostat. (2010). Statistics database. Retrieved August 9, 2010 from: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/
page/portal/product_details/dataset?p_product_code=TSIEB020
9 U.S. Department of State. (2010). Background note: Netherlands. Retrieved August 9, 2010 from: http://www.
state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm
10 US Census Bureau. (2010). International database. Retrieved August 9, 2010 from: http://www.census.gov/
ipc/www/idb/
agework@bc.edu
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about the institute
Established in 2007 by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College, the Global
Perspectives Institute is an international collaboration of scholars and employers
committed to the expansion of the quality of employment available to the 21st century
multi-generational workforce in countries around the world.
The Global Perspectives Institute focuses on innovative and promising practices that might
be adopted by employers and policy-makers.
The Institute’s research, publications, and international forums contribute to:
àà a deeper understanding of the employment experiences and career aspirations of
employees of different ages who work in countries around the world;
àà informed decision making by employers who want to be employers-of-choice in
different countries; and
àà innovative thinking about private-public partnerships that promote sustainable,
high-quality employment.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College promotes quality of employment as
an imperative for the 21st century multi-generational workforce. We integrate evidence from
research with insights from workplace experiences to inform innovative organizational
decision making. Collaborating with business leaders and scholars in a multi-disciplinary
dialogue, the Center develops the next generation of knowledge and talent management.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work is grateful for the continued support of the Alfred P.
Sloan Foundation.
Josje Dikkers is assistant professor at the Department of Organizational Behavior and Development of
the VU University Amsterdam. Josje Dikkers graduated, cum laude, in 2001 with a specialization in Work
& Organizational Psychology at Tilburg University. Subsequently, she worked at the Department of Work
& Organizational Psychology of the Radboud University Nijmegen on her PhD project which focused
on the interaction between people’s work and private life in relation to organizational, work and home
characteristics, which she successfully defended in 2008. Her research interests focus on the interaction
between work and wellbeing, and more specifically on HRM-policies facilitating work-home balance.
Luísa de Azevedo has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She
first started working with research in 2005, participating as an assistant in projects mainly with regards
to the Brazilian labor market. She was part of the research team of Ricardo Paes de Barros at IPEA and is
currently a junior researcher at IETS. Her latest work in the field of labor markets was a monthly bulletin
on entrepreneurship in Rio de Janeiro, developed with other senior researchers from IETS.
Esha Zaveri is a graduate student in the Department of Economics at Boston College. Her research
interests lie in applied microeconomics with a focus on developing countries.
12
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
Country Context Team Leaders
Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Director, Sloan
Center on Aging and Work
Tay K. McNamara, Director of Research,
Sloan Center on Aging and Work
Jungui Lee, Postdoctoral researcher,
Sloan Center on Aging and Work
netherlands
workforce
profile no.24
november 2010
For additional Sloan Center publications, visit our website at www.bc.edu/agingandwork
Country Workforce Profile 01 - Japan
Country Workforce Profile 02 - United States
Country Workforce Profile 03 - Pakistan
Country Workforce Profile 04 - South Korea
Country Workforce Profile 05 - China
Country Workforce Profile 06 - Greece
Country Workforce Profile 07 - Armenia
Country Workforce Profile 08 - Italy
Country Workforce Profile 09 - Singapore
Country Workforce Profile 10 - Denmark
Country Workforce Profile 11 - South Africa
Country Workforce Profile 12 - India
agework@bc.edu
Country Workforce Profile 13 - Kenya
Country Workforce Profile 14 - Australia
Country Workforce Profile 15 - Germany
Country Workforce Profile 16 - France
Country Workforce Profile 17 - Sweden
Country Workforce Profile 18 - United Kingdom
Country Workforce Profile 19 - Spain
Country Workforce Profile 20- Ireland
Country Workforce Profile 21 - Mexico
Country Workforce Profile 22 - NIgeria
Country Workforce Profile 23 - Brazil
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