Netherlands: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in the Netherlands?

The Dutch unemployment rate was 4.0% in August 2026, unchanged from July, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). A total of 408 thousand people were unemployed. Unemployment rose by an average of 3 thousand a month over the previous three months, while the number of people in work was virtually unchanged. At the end of August, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) recorded 195 thousand unemployment (WW) benefits.

CBS uses the international ILO definition: people aged 15 to 74 without paid work who have recently looked for work and can start soon. The figures are seasonally adjusted. Benefit counts are much lower than unemployment because many unemployed people do not qualify for WW.

Official sources: CBS: Unemployment up slightly in August

What is the minimum wage in the Netherlands?

From 1 July 2026 the Dutch statutory minimum wage is €14.99 an hour before tax for employees aged 21 and over, according to Government.nl. It was €14.71 from 1 January 2026. Lower rates apply to younger workers: €11.99 at 20, €8.99 at 19, €7.50 at 18, €5.92 at 17, €5.17 at 16 and €4.50 at 15.

Since 1 January 2024 the minimum wage is set per hour only, so monthly pay depends on contracted hours. The rates are adjusted every 1 January and 1 July. CBS counted 610 thousand jobs paid at or near the minimum wage in 2025, 6.7% of all jobs.

Official sources: Government.nl: Minimum wage amounts · CBS: 610 thousand jobs paid at the minimum wage

What is the average salary in the Netherlands?

The average yearly wage per employee job in the Netherlands was €47,460 in 2025, including bonuses, according to the Statistics Netherlands (CBS) table on jobs, wages and working hours. Excluding special payments it was €40,880. The average hourly wage was €30.53 and the average monthly wage including overtime €3,407, across 9.17 million employee jobs.

These are gross amounts per job, not per person, and part-time jobs count at their actual pay, which lowers the average. Men's jobs averaged €55,840 a year including bonuses. The most recent year in the table is provisional and can be revised.

Official sources: CBS StatLine: Employment; jobs, wages, working hours, key figures

How fast are wages rising in the Netherlands?

Collectively agreed (CAO) wages in the Netherlands were 4.0% higher in the third quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). That compares with 4.6% in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted for inflation, wages were 0.8% higher. CBS says wage growth peaked at 6.8% in the third quarter of 2024 and has slowed since. The largest increases were in specialised business services and construction.

Negotiated wages cover pay agreed in collective labour agreements, including special payments, and are provisional for 2026. Actual earnings can rise faster or slower because of promotions, bonuses and changes in hours.

Official sources: CBS: Negotiated wages up by 4.0 percent in Q3 2026

What is the state pension (AOW) age in the Netherlands?

The AOW state pension age is 67 for people born between 1 March 1957 and 31 December 1960, and 67 years and 3 months for people born between 1 January 1961 and 30 September 1964, according to the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). For people born on or after 1 October 1964 the age is not yet final, because it is linked to life expectancy.

The government sets the future AOW age using CBS life expectancy forecasts, reviewed each year. Actual retirement happens earlier for many: CBS reports that the average retirement age of workers rose to 66 years and 4 months in 2025, and 40% of workers who retired that year did so before 67.

Official sources: SVB: Your AOW pension age · CBS: Average retirement age rises to 66 years and 4 months

How many people work in the Netherlands?

A total of 9.6 million people aged between 15 and the state pension age were in employment in the second quarter of 2026, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). CBS says that number has hardly changed over two years, while the rest of the population, including children, pensioners and non-working adults, rose to just over 8.5 million. People also worked slightly fewer hours a week on average, with men's hours falling a little.

Employment was rising in the 25 to 44 and 60-plus age groups. The figures come from the labour force survey. The number of jobs is higher than the number of people working, because some people have more than one job.

Official sources: CBS: Employment rate among working-age people unchanged

What is the minimum wage in the Netherlands?

The ILO puts the statutory minimum wage in the Netherlands at 2,338 EUR a month in 2026. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012.

How much do workers in the Netherlands earn on average?

In 2025, average monthly earnings of employees in the Netherlands was $6,402 a month, according to the ILO. That is the highest since at least 2012. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was $3,252 a month, and the Netherlands placed 6th highest of 32. Of 57 countries with 2025 data, 6th highest.

What is the Netherlands' unemployment rate?

The ILO puts the unemployment rate in the Netherlands at 3.9% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.4% (2019) to 7.4% (2014). It is 37th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 5.5%. World rank, highest first: 110th of 174.

What is youth unemployment in the Netherlands?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 8.8%. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 12.9%; its low point was 2019, at 6.6%. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 14.2%, and the Netherlands placed 41st highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 118th of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in the Netherlands?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate in the Netherlands was 67.2%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 66.1% (2017) to 67.7% (2023). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 60.3%, and the Netherlands placed 4th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 41st highest.

What is female labour force participation in the Netherlands?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate for women in the Netherlands at 62.7% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 63.1%; its low point was 2005, at 59.5%. It is 3rd highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 54.6%. World rank, highest first: 29th of 174.

How many people in the Netherlands are employed?

64.6%: that is the employment to population ratio in the Netherlands for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 61.2% (2014) to 65.3% (2023). Europe & Central Asia median: 56.6%; the Netherlands is 3rd highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 38th of 174.

How common is self-employment in the Netherlands?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in the Netherlands at 13.4% in 2025. The peak was 13.5% in 2024 and the low 10.4% in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 11.0%, and the Netherlands placed 19th highest of 47. World rank, highest first: 129th of 174.

What share of workers in the Netherlands earn a wage or salary?

In 2025, the share of workers who are paid employees in the Netherlands was 83.2%, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 87.5%; its low point was 2024, at 83.2%. It is 29th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 85.5%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 44th highest.