Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Netherlands
Netherlands: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Netherlands, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 3.9% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.2% on the previous year and down 43.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Netherlands peaked at 14.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2001.
That places Netherlands 128th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 6.0% | — |
| 1977 | 5.9% | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 6.2% | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 6.5% | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 7.9% | +22.3% |
| 1982 | 12.0% | +51.8% |
| 1983 | 11.9% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 10.5% | -11.6% |
| 1986 | 14.4% | +37.4% |
| 1987 | 9.9% | -31.3% |
| 1988 | 9.4% | -5.3% |
| 1989 | 8.7% | -7.1% |
| 1990 | 7.7% | -11.9% |
| 1991 | 7.3% | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 5.6% | -23.7% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | +13.2% |
| 1994 | 7.2% | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 6.4% | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 5.5% | -14.2% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | -20.3% |
| 1999 | 3.6% | -17.6% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -24.8% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -22.2% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | +20.5% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | +40.7% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | +29.3% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | +26.4% |
| 2006 | 5.0% | -14.7% |
| 2007 | 4.2% | -17.1% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | -11.9% |
| 2009 | 4.4% | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | +14.7% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | +24.4% |
| 2014 | 7.4% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 6.9% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 6.0% | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -19.5% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | -20.8% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | +13.1% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -16.2% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 3.9% | +7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.0% | 5.9% | 6.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 10.1% | 6.5% | 14.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.1% | 3.6% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.9% | 2.1% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.5% | 3.4% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More work & labour data for Netherlands
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 5,256 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 66.71 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 10,535 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 130,584 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 94,797 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 64.03 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.4 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Netherlands?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Netherlands was 3.9% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 14.4% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2001.
- How does Netherlands rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Netherlands ranks 128th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.